When we look at successful people, there are a variety of assumptions we can make as to why they are successful. Being a hard worker is one thing that comes to mind when we think of successful people. Being smart never hurts, either. What it really boils down to, though, is whether or not you can overcome your fears and take action.
Why You Must Overcome Your Fears
Let’s be honest, there are times when you wonder why someone who doesn’t seem bright finds success. You may start to think, “How the hell did they get to where they’re at? I’m smarter than them!” That may or may not be true, but one thing is for sure: if you’re not afraid to take action, you are more likely to find success. Learning how to overcome your fears gives you a significant advantage whether or not you think you are intelligent or a hard worker.
You have to remember that it’s not all about the “Great Idea”. In fact, lots of people have great ideas. Even more may be sharp as pencils. They can know exactly what to do, but what good is all that knowledge, imagination, and information if they’re too scared to do anything with their skillset?
Let’s not give fear too much of a bad rap here. When mankind needed to be hyper-aware of our environment in more primal times, fear was certainly a useful tool for staying alive. We were born with the ability to fear, so like anything else we’re born with, ultimately it serves a purpose.
Fortunately, most of us aren’t typically in “fight or flight” situations like our ancestors. Even so, people tend to invoke that same primal instinct about things that have nothing to do with life or death. It just seems like it when a big change or decision is upon us that forces us out of our comfort zones (even when we know financial “comfort” isn’t quite as comfortable as financial freedom).
The Protective Mind
The protective mind acts like a helicopter mom, hovering over us as if every move we make will end in disaster. It’s constantly creating doom and gloom scenarios, trying to scare the heck out of us in the hopes that we won’t try anything new. In many cases, it’s our own protective mind that prevents us from taking the actions necessary to reach our dreams.
When that happens, all of our great ideas are now accompanied by uncertainty and doubt. So, you might think that a lot of people wait for their fear to subside before taking action to reach their dreams. Wrong! You don’t have to be fearless in order to act. You acknowledge the fear and act anyway. Fear itself holds no real power over us.
Using Fear To Find Success
Successful people have doubts, and successful people worry. The only difference between those who succeed and those who don’t is that successful people act regardless of the fear. If you don’t have integrity or brains and you still act, you are more likely to find success than geniuses with integrity who keep it to themselves because they’re too afraid to put themselves out there.
Habitual fear can be paralyzing. It can trick us into believing that we can’t act, that we shouldn’t act, that acting is going to lead to pain. Even if it’s what you’ve been taught or it’s lead to pain before, you can’t let it hold you back. You’re never going to be happy or successful if you don’t get beyond your fear.
Exercise: Conquering Your Fears
Think about some of these things:
- What have been your biggest fears, anxieties, and worries?
- Were they overblown?
- What was the result once you got past those fears?
- Where in your life are you letting fear stop you from taking the necessary actions for happiness and success?
Remember, don’t let fear ever paralyze you into inaction. Overcome your fears!
Share your thoughts in the comment section so others can learn from your experience.
Good too to leave the worry to yr superconscious mind to sort while u get good night’s rest and sleep. In a few days u cud find urself guided towards sounder strategy.
I think fear can be crippling when we remember how it can cause us to fail at what we have set out to do. If in the past we have had to face struggles of which caused us to encounter fearful situations, then we are more apt to withhold our efforts and success can often be viewed as bringing on the “fear of failure”, as in we are concerned as to how others see us, not how we see ourselves. We must be selfish in this way and rule out other’s viewpoints.