Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Can you remember your biggest fear as a child? Perhaps you were scared of a monster under your bed, or of losing your parents in a large crowd.
Now that you are older, you might consider your childhood fears to have been naïve; monsters don’t exist and your parents always knew how to find you. Think of your fears now as an adult. Are you afraid of not finding the love of your life, or not having a meaningful job? Do you dread being abandoned by your partner or not being financially secure?
Fear can manifest itself in different disguises. Both the reason you were afraid of the monster under your bed as a child and the reason you may now be afraid of not achieving financial freedom as an adult are direct results of the human tendency to fear the unknown. Similarly, adults also fear being left alone, whether this refers to the relationship between partners, friends, or even family, in the same way that a child fears losing its parents in a crowd.
Fear is an emotional response meant to protect us from the dangers of our surroundings. But, sometimes fear can create brilliant excuses and impede us from attaining what we truly yearn for and deserve. Fear of the unknown can hinder you from asking for that well-deserved raise, or can lure you into a procrastination trap. In the moments when you feel this self-doubt, follow these simple rules to set yourself free:
- Stop focusing on the negative. What is the worst thing that can happen if you ask for that raise? Try rewarding yourself for engaging in positive thought patterns to reduce any limiting thoughts.
- Remind yourself of the power that you possess to overcome any obstacles that get in the way of achieving your full potential. Our reality is shaped by the small decisions we make every day. If those small decisions allow us to work towards a goal, then every day you will be working towards something and not participating in procrastination.
- Try something once a week to overcome your fear of change. Consider doing something creative that allows you to tap into your imagination. Sometimes, it is important to break your routine to see that there is more to life than just the everyday tasks. Enjoy a movie, a dinner, or a drink alone.
- Connect to your true nature, your resilient self, the heroic one…connect to your true self
- Remind yourself that almost 90% of your fears never happen. The 10% that happens, you can handle it much better than expected and teaches you a lesson worth learning.
Imagine if your children were taught to be confident and resilient risk takers from an early age so that they did not limit their potential in the future?
Imagine if all schools taught emotional literacy and parents would reinforce it at home?
Like posts like this? Interested in posts about children, education, or mental health? Be a part of transforming education by following us on: or email us at info@triumphsteps.com