We’re afraid of so many things, aren’t we? We’re afraid of death, public speaking, rejection, failure, exceeding our capacity, success…but at the heart of it all, I think what we’re really afraid of is pain.
If you don’t get a job you applied for or the raise you hoped for, it hurts. It would be easy to stop trying so hard for the things that don’t come easy because it hurts so much when you “fail.”
Most people who get stuck in their careers and don’t know why eventually give up and find a way to be satisfied with where they are, but not because they want to stay there. They think they’ve tried everything and they’re afraid to keep trying because they don’t think they’ll be able to get a different result, or because the pain of trying just seems too great. The fear even keeps them from trying anything new because they think nothing will work.
This fear is a story you’re telling yourself. It’s a story that you can change. You don’t have to be guided by your fears. You can actually master your fear instead of letting it determine your future.
Every single day I get to work with folks who have started out afraid. Their fears are all a little different, but fear is at the heart of many of their challenges. We talk through the fear. I do some “coachy magic” and help them to release their fear and trust themselves. When I get to see them spread their wings and soar because they stopped being so very afraid, it’s a beautiful experience.
You don’t have to be afraid. Life is full of challenges and rejections and failures. It’s all part of the game. If you change your perspective so that you aren’t letting fear guide you, then you’ll be able to approach your dreams and goals completely differently and you’ll be so much more likely to see success.
