The funny thing about fear is that what you’re afraid of doesn’t have to be right in front of you.
For example, I hate Rottweilers. Right now I’m writing this post at my office, safe and sound, but just the thought of those big, dark, vicious dogs that can rip my throat out gives me the shudders. That’s because the human brain can’t distinguish between reality and imagination.
Think of what you are afraid of and you will feel the fight or flight – but definitely the fright – syndrome.
For you, perhaps it’s a make-or-break business presentation you have to give to a tough audience tomorrow. Or the prospect of asking your boss for a raise. Or being offered a career opportunity but you are paralyzed by the risk of failure. They’re not happening now, but they still give you the sweaty palms and tummy butterflies.
In this Fearless Factor series, I will share my thoughts how to overcome fear and its related emotion, anxiety.
My first tip is that you defang your fear. What I mean is that you must reflect on why you fear what you are fearful of. Put differently: what hold does that fear have on you? What explains its power? Once you identify why you fear what you fear, you can create counter-strategies to neutralize that fear.
It helps to ask: what makes the [what you fear] fearful for you? For example, if you dread public speaking, ask: what makes public speaking fearful for you? Perhaps it is the deeper fear of making mistakes or being unable to answer tough questions. If you dive even deeper, the root fear has to do with your identity or self-image: you simply don’t want to look like a fool.
Once you pinpoint the root fear, we can begin work on taking the sting out of that fear. I will share two methods in my next post. You may not be able to defang a Rottweiler, but you can certainly defang your fear.
Don’t miss it!
May 22, 2023
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