What Would You Do if You Weren’t Afraid?

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. Henry Ford

Fear is thinking about what we don’t want to happen. It is focusing on the negative and negative thinking generally gets negative results. Realize also that your “attitude” will have a direct effect on fear. Instead of fearing what “might” happen, focus your mind on what you want to happen. By confronting your fears, understanding them and dealing with them, you can conquer them.

As you experience the discomfort of a fear, try the following techniques to relieve and control it.

1. Try to locate the source or origin of the fear. Once uncovered, you will frequently find it is unrealistic in light of your achievements.

2. Analyze the situation which provokes fear. Ask yourself, “What is the worst thing that could possibly happen?” Then be realistic about the possibilities of that happening.

3. Train yourself to think less about yourself and concentrate on achieving your goals.

4. Concentrate on the positive qualities you possess instead of dwelling on those qualities which you may consider negative.

5. Don’t let yourself get hung up in a search for absolute perfection. Set you standards to fit the job at hand.

6. Recognize that you can never know enough to be absolutely certain when you make a decision. Once you know yourself and have a set of goals based on your own values, be comfortable with the fact that you have based your decisions on the best of your beliefs and knowledge.

7. Do not become immobilized through fear of making mistakes. A mistake can often lead to a very productive learning experience for you.

8. Believe that most people are for you rather than against you.

9. Set goals! By setting challenging yet realistic goals, you will stretch your capacity and thus use more of your untapped potential.