Fear: The Brake Pedal of Success and How To Stop It
We’ve all been there.The place and time where you’ve let your fear make the decision for you. Even if you’re not willing to admit it, I am. Fear has driven me in the past, but no longer.
Fear does not need to slow you down, or in most cases stop you from acting altogether. Business owners often have to take huge leaps of faith. You’ve probably already taken a few yourself just stepping up to the plate, even if you don’t acknowledge the fact.
So recognize now you have the ability to overcome fear.
But how does fear impact success?
Just the same as it applied to the Green Lantern, one of my favorite comic book heroes – which I knew would be applicable later in life! – it’s the power of will to overcome fear. It’s the ability to act, when others will not.
Much of this comes to faith; faith in yourself, in your business, business partners, product, service, customers or whatever else you’re pouring yourself into.
However, since we don’t all have rings forged by immortal beings that allow us to manifest our thoughts into tangible reality (yet) we need tangible tools and resources that we can use in our daily lives. So below I give you three tools I’ve used to break out of a fear state and carry on towards success.
- Change Your Environment
Get up, move around and leave wherever you are even if only momentarily. Often times we find ourselves in the same desk, doing tasks that we’ve done before and it’s a challenge to be and think differently, especially when it comes to fear related to our success.So go to a coffee shop for a day. Go for a walk a run or take your lunch outside. Through removing yourself from your standard environment you’ll allow different thought processes to come into your mind. - Write Down 7 Recent Successes
Simple and effective. Take out that pen and paper, or even pull out a post-it note and get to writing. These “successes” don’t need to be on a grand scale (e.g. built a popsicle stick model of the Taj Mahal to scale). When we appreciate the little victories we’re bound to get more of them (e.g. opened a can of Pringles and stopped before the whole can was gone).This process allows your mind to begin thinking about your existing circumstances from a different perspective, which is powerful tool in negating fear and embracing the opportunity in front of you.Or simply put, you become familiar with success, so it’s no longer scary. - Smile…
Like Nike says; “Just Do It”. Serious, right now… smile. Even better go look in a mirror and smile. Even if you need to force it out. Sit there and smile. The act of smiling has a positive impact and releases endorphins which stimulates positive emotions and can make you feel better instantly – especially when you see yourself or others smile.
Use these three quick, easy and everyday tools to allow constant forward progress to success without being a victim of fear. If you’re not taking action, not moving forward, then evaluate your mental attitude towards the actions and at the root, more often than not, you’ll find fear.
Go forth and live fearlessly, my friends.