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9 Tips to Overcome Fear

Guest post by: Marja Botha van Doorn

Article Overview: In this article we are going to look at fear of failure, as one of the strongest forces holding us back from taking the necessary action required to maintain momentum and ultimately achieve our goals. We will also explore tips that will help us to overcome fear.In a world full of uncertainty, a delicate economy, and countless misfortunes that could happen to anyone, it’s easy to see why most people are inclined to play it safe.

9 Tips to Overcome Fear

In a world full of uncertainty, a delicate economy, and countless misfortunes that could happen to anyone, it’s easy to see why most people are inclined to play it safe.

But playing it safe has risk as well. As Susan Jeffers says in her book “Feel the fear and Do it Anyway” Pushing through fear is less frightening that living with the underlying fear that comes from a feeling of helplessness. If you never dare to fail your success will have a low ceiling. Most people underestimate their ability to handle and recover from failure, leading them to pass up valuable opportunities. Yet some of the most spectacularly successful people in history have failed big and failed often on their journey to success.

The following strategies will help you put risk and reward in perspective so you can overcome the fear of failure.

1. Be aware that fear will always be around for as long as you are growing. Anytime that you set goals or do things that are out of your comfort zone, you will experience some level of fear.
2. Know that you are NOT the only one that will experience fear when on unfamiliar territory, but so is everyone else. If you read books about people who have been hugely successful, you will notice that they have also experienced fear. For example, Nelson Mandela says “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” Fear is a given. It is how we choose to deal with that fear that matters.
3. Consider the cost of missed opportunities – What has your fear of failure cost you so far? Did you miss out on extraordinary opportunities? The issue is that without taking risk, you can’t exploit any opportunities. You may be able to live reasonably happy life, but you are unlikely to live a completely fulfilled life.
4. Research the alternatives – The unknown is a major source of fear. When you don’t know what you’re dealing with, potential consequences seem far worse than they actually are. Take the power out of fear by understanding it. Research all the potential outcomes (both good and bad) so you genuinely understand the risk of failure and benefits of success. Analyzing these outcomes will help you see through the fear of failure and make a logical decision.
5. Put the worst-case scenario in perspective – If you chase your dreams and fall flat on your face, how long will it take you to recover? The answer is probably less than you expect. How hard would it really be to get up and carry on? Chances are you could recover completely in a few months. Is the fear of a few rough months strong enough to keep you in a mediocre situation indefinitely?
6. Understand the benefits of failure – Each failure is a trial in an experiment and an opportunity for growth. Even if a failure costs you financially, the educational benefits can far outweigh the loss.
7. Make a contingency plan – Another way to overcome the fear of failure is to reduce the downside. Hedge your risk by creating a contingency plan. Even if your first option fails, you can maintain the status quo with a solid backup plan. Daring to fail doesn’t mean you have to risk losing it all. If you manage risk intelligently, you can capture the benefits of high risk opportunities while leaving yourself a safety net.
8. Take action – The best way to reduce fear and build confidence is taking action. As soon as you do, you’ll begin accumulating experience and knowledge. Everything is hardest the first time. It’s like jumping off a cliff into a lake — after you do it once, you see that the water is safe and each time afterwards is easy. Start off with small steps and build up your confidence until the fear of failure is manageable. Set goals that are around 20% out of your comfort zone. Doing things that are out of your comfort zone is the only way you will grow.
9. Burn the boats - When ancient Greek armies traveled across the sea to do battle, the first thing they would do after landing was to burn the boats, leaving them stranded. With no way to make it home besides victory, the resolve of the soldiers was strengthened. When success and failure are the only options, you have no choice but to follow through. If you have a goal, but are afraid to commit, force yourself into action by burning the boats. Register for an exam in advance if you want to go back to school. Set a deadline to move to a new city without signing a lease. Fear of failure disappears when you realize it can’t save you.

Until next time - Empower your Mind, Inspire your Soul

Marja Botha van Doorn

CoachingMinds

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Article Tags: Overcome fear, take action



Related Forum Posts
Business Tips - How about: Tips for managers to handle employees more effectively? Tips on how to deal with difficult customers? Tips on how to deal more effectively with suppliers? The only three I have in mind right now, but will try to come up with something else. Chris
Re: Fear of Success - You don't need to fear success. We should embrace it. Fear is define by a man of God as False Evidence Appearing Real. the meaning is what we fear most does'nt come to pass
Other Great Books... - Feel The Fear And Do It AnyWay - Susan Jeffers How To Stop Worrying And Do It Anyway - Dale Carnegie ('What's the worst that could happen - the worst?' Then prepare yourself for that and reality is such a relief!).
Re: What I'm reading this weekend - Oct 8, 2010 - these are great! In particular, I liked "you’re already perfect" and "Smashing through the Black Wall of Fear." That's exciting that there is a new 4-hour book out. I really enjoyed "The 4 hour Workweek."
Re: Using Craigslist SEO to Promote Your Website - Great Craiglist Tips for driving traffic. I can definitely use these to drive traffic to my blog.


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