I’m afraid of many things.
As a child, Halloween scared me.
Ghosts, goblins, werewolves…you name it, I thought they were out to get
me. Not to mention the teenage kids in
the neighborhood just waiting to jump from a bush and nab my candy. There were so many unknowns.
Unknowns are just that…UNKNOWN. We can’t prepare for them. We can’t avoid them. Unknowns just happen. Being afraid of unknowns, however, is no
excuse to not going out to Trick or Treat.
Whatever your ‘candy,’ to be successful we need to limit the
unknowns. Success is not something to be
afraid, but instead is a trait that can be learned. Success isn’t guaranteed. People are not always successful at all
times. In fact, most success stories are
preceded by many failures.
One big fear is if we do the work, we won’t see the results
we’re looking for and feel as though we've failed. What if we do make it work and we do see results.
We know that we will have to change to be successful, but we are used to being
who we are. Being something different can
scare us. Even though we want it, and the change is positive... what will
others think? Will I alienate my
friends? Many times, it's safe to do nothing because
it's where we are comfortable. You could also discover that to succeed is not
an end point, but only a beginning. Anxiety
can take over and make us want to hide.
You can feel like you’re playing tug of war with yourself.
In order to be successful and help us conquer these fears,
here are a few tips that may help.
1.
BE POSITIVE
a.
Get rid of the negativity. Negative thoughts breed fear. Fear leads to self-doubt. Focus on the positives. Write down (or at least say aloud) all the
good things that happened to you each day.
Surround yourself with positive people.
Just as negativity breeds fear, positive people create safety and self-belief.
2.
YOU ARE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER
a.
Fear grows when uncertain. When you understand that you are part of a
bigger picture, you will know that there are others that will support you. Focus on being a good person and helping
those around you. Make it a priority to
know that this isn’t just about you.
3.
LIVE IN THE PRESENT
a.
Use your energy to concentrate on what you are
doing now. Embrace your past, but do not
live there. See your future and make
sure you pave the road to get there.
Appreciate those on your side. Be
thankful for opportunities that arise and take the time to see the opportunities
that are often hidden by obstacles.
4.
HAVE A SUCCESSBRARY
a.
It is difficult to stay on course all the
time. We often need a little
inspiration. Keep quotes, positive
sayings, inspirational stories, songs to help you overcome tough times.
5.
EDUCATE YOURSELF
a.
The less you know, the more the UNKNOWNS. Learn new things to limit your unknowns. I’m scared of what I don’t know. I can remember how I felt going into a test
every time I did not study. You bet –
horrified. On the flip side, I could
feel the confidence when I spent the time to learn what was expected.
6.
IT’S A JOURNEY
a.
Success is not a destination, it is a
journey. As in any journey, you will
have good days and bad; positives and negatives; keep your eye on where you are
headed. Create rest stops along the
way. Rest stops are smaller goals that
keep you motivated and increase your confidence for the long road ahead.
7.
DON’T GO IT ALONE
a.
Although you are the only one that can take your
journey, you do not have to go by yourself.
Find a mentor or others that are taking a similar journey. Some people may be able to only travel a
short distance with you, while others will join along the road. Seek advice and be there to assist others.
You’re too
afraid to succeed because you’re afraid that you’ll get hurt, which will make
you somehow bad.
We’re all
afraid. And you most likely will hurt.
But don’t
let that stop you. The alternative is even more painful in the end.
