Why does fear hold us back?

Fear is often perceived as bad - but, as Chris Anderson puts it: “Fear is there for a reason”.

Fear is trying to protect you and keep you safe. If you always do what you have always done, you are staying within your comfort zone; and within your comfort zone there is no fear because, well, it is comfortable!

As soon as you try to step outside of this, there is some element of the unknown; something is different to what you have known/done/been before and you try to protect yourself by pulling back. Here, in the comfort zone, you are safe and protected but you're unlikely to never grow, develop or become who you are meant to be.

How can you reframe fear?

So, how do you move from a fear state into a more 'growth' mindset so you can achieve all your amazing goals - whether that is going for a promotion, speaking in public or deciding to get healthier?

I think that, if you can reframe fear with the following 7 steps, you can find ways to beyond it:

1. How can you challenge old beliefs?

Check in with yourself - is this fear still true for you? Is this an old belief you can now let go of?

2. What do you want to achieve?

You make decisions by moving towards something or moving away from something. When you are moving towards something you are aiming for your desired outcome, working towards who you want to be or what you want to achieve. When you are moving away from something, you are letting your fear of what you don’t want to be or happen define you and your actions. Make sure your goals are so compelling that you no longer fear what you are losing by achieving them.

3. Why are your goals more important than your fears?

Write down your ‘whys’ for your goal. Shift your focus to the positives of the change you are making and fall in love with the you that will achieve this great outcome.

4. Can you reframe fear as excitement?

Fear and excitement present similar physical responses in the body - sweaty palms, butterflies in the stomach, increased heart rate... it's just how you label the emotion that changes.

5. How would you act if fear wasn't holding you back?

How would someone who wasn’t afraid be thinking and behaving in this situation? Now think, act, behave as they would!

6. How can positive self-talk help you overcome fear?

 Why do you feel it is okay to speak to yourself in a way you would never speak to anyone else? Think about how you would help a friend that was afraid of something. What would you say? How would you encourage them? Now give the same advice to yourself.

7. Why should you celebrate your progress?

Set yourself a goal, and set yourself a reward for when you achieve this goal. And then celebrate this when you do achieve it!

If fear is repeatedly preventing you from pursuing your goals, a coach may be able to help you explore what's holding you back, clarify what you want to achieve and identify manageable next steps to get there.