Self-confidence is an essential quality that can help us feel more capable and successful in our personal and professional lives. However, many people struggle with low self-confidence, which can hold them back from achieving their goals and reaching their full...
So you want to be fearless?
Written by Pam
I hear the term ‘fearless’ and I wonder. What does being ‘fearless’ look like?
Is it climbing mountains or jumping off buildings?
To me fearless as something to aspire to, is so much more than that.
F-E-A-R has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours.
Zig Ziglar
First, let’s acknowledge that fear is important, it keeps us safe from danger. Without fear humans would probably not have survived as a species. So, I am not suggesting that we would be better off without fear. What I am suggesting is we acknowledge we are afraid and fear-less.
What is it to be fearless?
Well, to me, it’s not necessarily bungee jumping or extreme sport.
When I think of fearless, I think of people who have taken on something that they were afraid of, whether that be a new business, a relationship or yes even a mountain climb. People that pushed through fear of something unknown and did it anyway.
How does fear hold you back?
Sometimes we don’t even recognise fear is holding us back. We are just busy being and not really looking at what is driving our decision process.
Fear of missing out
This is at an all time high, which has a lot to do with how connected we all are on social media. It is too easy to compare your everyday life to someone’s insta account and think that you are missing out on something. The reality is probably not what it looks like.
The problem arises when we make decisions based on what we think we are missing out on. Going places and doing things because everyone else is and not connecting with what we really resonate with.
Fear of failure
We miss opportunities when we are so afraid of failure that we won’t take a risk on something new. When we let that little voice inside talk us out of something that really got us excited. And, unless you are living a life you have always wanted, this is a risk in itself.
Your comfort zone has got you to where you are now. So, unless you want to stay there you may have to take a risk and do something new. And while, no one really likes to fail, if we never fail, we miss out on the opportunity for growth that failure brings.
Fear of what other people think
We all need connection with others, it’s part of being human. We all want great relationships with people who think well of us. But sometimes we can let the perceived opinion of other’s decide what we should or shouldn’t do. And studies have shown that we are over-estimating how harshly others judge us.
One of the best ways to get over this fear is to be considerate of others and do what makes you happy. If you think that someone does judge you, you will know your intentions were good.
It is not uncommon for people to spend their whole life waiting to start living.
Eckhart Tolle
Fear-less
We all feel fear, it’s a natural part of life, the trick is to not let fear rule our life.
I know that sounds simple but like most of the great ideas, it really is. It just means acknowledging your fear and doing it anyway. Making that call to the cute guy you met, asking your boss for a pay rise all the time knowing you might not get the answer you want. And yes, I know, that is going to take something but while I said it was simple I never said it would be easy!
And really it doesn’t have to be something big, start with something small. Say Hi to a stranger if you struggle with confidence around people or if public speaking makes you fearful start by presenting to a mirror.
Try to not dwell on what could go wrong, try to change the fear into excitement for what could be possible.
Becoming fearless is a process, it takes time. Don’t rush, take it bit by bit, build that fearless ‘muscle’. Who knows what possibilities await outside your comfort zone?
Related Articles
How to increase self-confidence.
read more
Understanding the power of body language.
We’ve all done it, well I know I have, walked into a room full of strangers and known who to approach and who to steer away from. But how? Without realizing it was probably by reading the body language Let’s say it’s a party and you only know the host. You walk...
Don’t we all just want to be happy?
We all just want to be happy, don't we? To feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of every day and wake up with enthusiasm for the day that is about to unfold. How many of us though, can truly say we are happy? There is so much negativity in the world, wars,...