Let go of fear

What stops us from achieving success?

Sometimes it’s the inability to get started despite using the 5 second rule, because there’s a deep rooted reason holding you back.

Sometimes, that reason is the fear of failure.

Fear of failure can hold you back from achieving success.

But what if you could not fail? What if you are guaranteed success? Would you have a go?

Or if you were at rock bottom and literally had nothing to lose?  Would you have a go?

I’d assume that for most, the answer is “yes” to both scenarios.

So why is it, that when we’re in between these extremes, that we become paralysed with the fear of failure and fail to act?

Where does this fear come from?

The fear-defence system is our innate defensive response to threats.

This fear-defence is hard wired and helps to ensure our survival.

It’s experience dependent, which means that we learn to apply our fear-defence to certain situations.

And sometimes these situations don’t necessarily warrant the fear defence.

And when this happens, fear is holding you back.

How can you overcome this and be able to let go of fear?

I’ve got three step approach to help you let go of fear.

**Step One **- Identify and understand your fear.  Write it down, make a list.

This will allow you to define your fear.

Once defined, you can move towards understanding why it’s a fear in the first place.

Is the fear legitimate? Is it an actual threat, or just a perceived threat?

Step Two - Develop a plan and contingencies to deal with the fear.

The plan will allow you to avoid the fear and the contingencies will help you to deal, even if the issue that causes the fear arises. Note that part of the plan may involve you re-learning or re-programming your fear memory so you are able to deal with it.

By taking the time to prepare, you simply follow the plan when the situations arise, this allows you to focus on the actions to take instead of the fear itself.

And **Step Three **- Commit.

When it’s time to start, jump in with both feet.  Don’t dip in a toe, decide it’s not comfortable and talk yourself out of it.

Think about this.

Being outside of your comfort zone, naturally means you are uncomfortable.

This will cause an initial shock to the system, but you will adjust.

It’s like jumping into a lake on a summer day.

It starts off “cold”, but after paddling around, your body adjusts, and your experience changes to “a bit fresh, but nice”.

Don’t be afraid to venture outside of your comfort zone, because comfort zones are where dreams go to die.

So, to let go of fear,

Start with identifying and understanding it.

Then develop a plan with contingencies.

And commit. Don’t hesitate.

Let go of fear.  Don’t let fear hold you back from achieving success.

Image Credit: Photo by Tommaso Fornoni on Unsplash