How to challenge fear and self-doubt

Without fear, the human race would not have got very far. At the dawning of our species, there were many things to fear. Fear helped keep us alive, giving us a healthy understanding of the dangers in life. The brain is wired to respond to moments of danger, with adrenaline flooding the system to help us act.

So, fast forward a few thousand years where thankfully we are no longer stalked by wild animals, at least not in West Oxfordshire. Yet a real “fear hangover” from these ancient times remains. In many ways, we are safer than ever. Yet we retain so many fears.

Whilst a subject this complex requires a great deal of understanding, here are some important and simple points which can help make a difference to people’s lives.

People are disturbed not by the things that happen, but by the views they take of those things

Imagine how much time can be wasted on rumination. Simple but effective ways of understanding negative thinking and self-talk can be a good way to challenge fear. Learning to observe your thoughts and whether they are helpful and realistic is the first step.

We can then challenge and ultimately replace unhelpful thoughts with ones based on evidence, not just our often misguided perceptions. After all, what we think can strongly affect what we feel.

Be honest with yourself. What is it you truly fear?

The easiest person to deceive is ourselves. Find out what it is that you fear and accept it without criticism or embarrassment. Identifying your real fears is the only way to start working with them, however strange or silly they may seem.

We are judging all the time, usually based on what we think other people will think of us. No one is perfect.

Aim for excellence, not perfection

Trying to be perfect can cause far more damage than good. Procrastination will only make things worse.

The fear of failure can often become our default behaviour without us even realising. Living in this social media and digital age, failure can feel very public. We find ways to procrastinate instead of meeting the challenge head-on. Aim for excellence, not perfection, and stop being so hard on yourself.

I like to reference Sir James Dyson at this point. When he invented his first Dual Cyclone vacuum cleaner, which hit stores in 1993, he spent years creating thousands of versions that failed before he made one that worked. He’s now a billionaire and calls himself a Professor of Failure.

And finally...

Getting out of your comfort zone takes guts. It can feel like something that goes against all our instincts. There are no sabre-tooth tigers ready to ambush you any more. The only ambushes are often those we’ve created ourselves.

And if you need any further convincing, just think back to the last time you came out the other side of your comfort zone.

Pretty good feeling, wasn’t it?