It's a powerful force; it can keep you stagnant, debilitated, unable to move from the very spot you stand. Physically yes, but mentally too. Fear can be the most significant roadblock present on the road to achieving your goals, but often you might not even know that fear is what is standing in your way.
There are a few types of fear, of course, and genuine fear has its place. It helps keep us safe and is provoked by our instincts. But illogical fear, the kind of fear that often begins with "what if…", is what holds you back from your greatest potential. It makes you wonder about all of the possible risks rather than all of the possible outcomes.
But you can, with work, create a healthier relationship with fear. The first step? It's recognising your illogical fears and finding out what's at the very root of them. Understanding them is the key to dispelling them.
So some reflection is in order. Ask yourself why you aren't making a decision or taking action. Ask why and then, ask why again. Keep asking why until you get to the very core, the truth of that fear. And then ask yourself, is this logical? Is this real? Is this true?
Once you have learned the truth about your fear you can then make a conscious decision about whether you’ll continue to let this fear stand in your way, or if you’ll take action.
Think about it this way: What would you do if you weren't afraid? And then, ask yourself, what is making you afraid? Now, what can you do to dispel that fear? What action can you take that will allow you to do the exact thing you were fearful of in the first place?
In doing this work, you might discover that your habits have been born out of a fear you've held for a long time. Simply because it's become part of your 'normal' doesn't mean it has to continue to be so.
When you let fear rule your decision-making and your habits, you relinquish active control over your life. Along the way, you become trapped, wrapped in a cocoon of fear, you don't take risks, and you don't see the reward. The result? You don't meet your goals or achieve your dreams. You stop participating in the narrative of your own life; instead, you are just along for the ride.
It's time to take control of your narrative.