Self-Motivation and the Courage To Act

Procrastination and the inability to act can often be traced to fear or doubt. fear is more often than not, imaginary. Once it is identified, analyzed, and understood, the shroud of fear can be lifted and tossed aside, making way for renewed self – motivation and determined action.

Fear can be divided into three basic categories: fear of failure, fear of criticism or rejection, and fear of the unknown. Although any one of these can cause you to become immobile, it is usually a combination of all three that creates the most difficulty. A closer look at the characteristics of these fears will reveal them for what they really are–imaginary obstacle to your success!

It is common for a person to want something intensely but not even try to go after it because of the fear of failure. If people recognized that by not trying they ensure failures, the folly of this thought would become evident. But, this happens to people daily. The reason? We tend to lose perspective of what it means to fail. To fail is to learn. Any newly attempted skill invites failure.

Fear of criticism or rejection is another common, often immobilizing fear. For example, when a salesperson asks for an order and doesn’t receive it, it means that she simply didn’t get the order. But she will often view the transaction differently and conclude that she, not her product, was rejected. Then she stops asking for the orders rather than risk the chance of rejection. At this point, she should pause and put things in perspective. She needs to realize that her worth as an individual is not on the line, only the business transaction.

The fear of criticism or rejection is linked closely with the need for social acceptance. People will go to great lengths to adapt a mode of dress or a certain type of behavior because they fear being criticized by others. This fear can rob you of the very uniqueness that can ensure your success. By giving up too many of your individual qualities, you destroy the inherent creativity, initiative, and self-esteem that you were born with in order to achieve your goals.

Fear of the unknown is another fear that can inhibit behavior. Many times, our need for security (the need to feel safe), causes us to be fearful in those situations where we’re not sure what is going to happen. Our fear of what might or might not happen can cause us to keep from doing those things that will make happen what we want to happen.

One more habit of thought or state of mind has its foundation in fear. That state of mind is “worry”. However, subtle worry may be, it gradually, but persistently, takes over the mind until it immobilizes your initiative, self-confidence, and ability to reason. Worry generally a very meaningless exercise. First, ninety percent of what you worry about never happens. Second, while you’re worrying about something that might happen, you’re not focused on doing whatever will ensure what you want to happen. Because worry stems from fear, it can be controlled mentally by making decisions and acting upon them with persistence, speed, and determination. Focusing on your goals, your desired outcomes, and your rewards, will help you to focus on something other than worry.

One more habit of thought or state of mind has its foundation in fear. That state of mind is “worry”. However, subtle worry may be, it gradually, but persistently, takes over the mind until it immobilizes your initiative, self-confidence, and ability to reason. Worry generally a very meaningless exercise. First, ninety percent of what you worry about never happens. Second, while you’re worrying about something that might happen, you’re not focused on doing whatever will ensure what you want to happen. Because worry stems from fear, it can be controlled mentally by making decisions and acting upon them with persistence, speed, and determination. Focusing on your goals, your desired outcomes, and your rewards, will help you to focus on something other than worry.