Think about this: If nothing could stop you or go wrong, what would your goals in life be?
Have you got your answer? Well, here's the next question: what is currently holding you back from achieving that goal?
Perhaps you might be held back by other, unavoidable factors like money or location. But for many (f not most) of us, these goals are attainable — we're just being held back by fear.
So many of us are afraid to try because we're afraid to fail and because we're afraid of the uncertainty ahead. But it is this fear that causes us to pass up on valuable opportunities! As a result, we fail to follow our hearts and end up going on a different and "safer" path.
But do we really want to grow old holding regrets? Do we really want to be haunted by "what ifs" and "maybe"s?
If your answer to those questions is "no", then it's time to overcome your fears and stop getting held back.
6 ways to overcome your fears
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1. Recognize your excuses and acknowledge your fear.
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We can't look to overcome our fears without first admitting that you're afraid. It's ok to admit that it has been fear that has been holding you back. It may even be useful for you to really think about what exactly it is that's scaring you.
In addition, fear and excuses often go hand-in-hand. When we're afraid to take the leap and work towards our goals, we tend to make excuses for our inaction.
Statements like "this wouldn't work anyway" or "I'm too tired" — it's time to take a step back and think about whether they're true or just excuses.
Once you've acknowledged that you are afraid, you can then work towards overcoming your fear.
2. Reflect on your fears
Once you have admitted to yourself that you are afraid, it's time to figure out what exactly it is that you're afraid of, and the root cause of this fear.
Sometimes, your fears may be justified, but there are other fears that may not be rational. That is why it's important to reflect on and look closely into your fears to find out which ones you can control and overcome.
Journaling regularly (if not daily) can help you get to understand yourself better and potentially explore deeper into your fears.
Of course, the key is to journal mindfully. And to do so, journaling prompts can often help you delve deeper into yourself and your fears! If you're looking for journal prompts to help you along your journey, why not check out Journey Coach?
With Journey Coach, you can enroll in daily prompt programs of various topics, ranging from self-care to self-confidence and even relationships!
Check out our Coach programs on Becoming Fearless and Making Peace with Fear today!
3. Specify and visualize your goals
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Sometimes we are afraid of chasing our goals because they feel elusive to us. When you get to better understand your goals and visualize them, you'll be more motivated to pursue them.
To visualize your goals, think about what your life would be like if you succeeded. Would you be happier? More fulfilled? Richer? How would your daily life be any different from what is now?
You may even want to create a vision board to help you better visualize your goals! Similar to the daily reminder, a vision board will help keep you motivated and inspired to continue chasing your goals.
4. Adopt a growth mindset
Fear can be paralyzing, especially when you're afraid to fail or to make mistakes. But perhaps one of the best ways to overcome fear is to develop and adopt a growth mindset.
Having a growth mindset means that you put less focus on achieving and more focus on growing. It's about letting go of perfectionism and accepting that the obstacles you face are necessary for you to grow into a better and stronger person.
It's not easy, changing your perspective on the world like that. It will take time, but adopting a growth mindset will really help you become more resilient and more determined to chase your dreams.
5. Learn to accept failure
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Fear of failure might just be the number 1 reason why so many people are reluctant to chase their dreams. But failure should not be something to be feared — it should be something to embrace, because failure is what will help you grow.
Once you can accept that failure is an inevitable part of life and that every mistake is a learning opportunity, it becomes a much easier pill to swallow.
It is how you respond to failure that will set you apart from others. While there is nothing wrong in nursing your wounds after you fall, you have to learn how to stand back up and try again!
6. Surround yourself with positivity
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The people you surround yourself with can make a huge difference on your attitude and mindset. If you're around people who aren't supportive of your dreams and discourage you, you might just be a crab in a bucket.
So, if you're looking to break free of your fears and start chasing your dreams, then it's important to surround yourself with like-minded people! Your friends should be supportive and encouraging, and you should get inspired by their efforts and successes as well!
You'll be surprised to find out that many of the barriers stand between us and our dreams are self-imposed. If you wish to finally break out of your shell and take the leap, we hope that this article has given you the extra push to overcome your fears and achieve greater things!