Nothing will destroy happiness or prevent you from achieving it like fear. There are many types of fear that people experience that can hold them back. The fear of failure is the biggest one. As we touch on previously, if you don’t try then you will never know. Mistakes can happen but so can success.
It can often take many trials, errors, and mistakes to be able to find success. Some of the most successful people in the world were once in dire straits due to not giving up on their ideas. With each failure, they learned one more way not to do what they were trying to achieve.
Being positive and moving through fear is very important. Think about the best-case scenario that can result from your efforts. Think about the worst-case scenario too. Be ready for the best but prepare for the worst.
The funny thing about our fears is that they are usually not as bad as the monster we had created in our own minds. When we face those fears, we become empowered and we move forward. We are able to say that we are strong and that brings us a sense of happiness too.
Doubt
Always believe that you can do what you set out to do. If you don’t have confidence in yourself, you are going to cave in to doubt. If you have positive people around you, they can help you to erase such a doubt. If your social structure consists of those that put you down rather than lifting you up, doubt will win.
When you have doubts, tell yourself why you CAN accomplish what you would like to. Keep in mind that you will always fail if you say nothing or you take no action. It is only when you take steps to move forward that you are able to really see the difference. If you have doubts, make a list of them. Then make a list of what is at stake for you to gain. Seeing it all on paper can give you the edge you need to take action.
Calculated Risk
Facing fears though doesn’t mean you throw caution to the wind. Some types of fears actually keep us safe from harm. Think about what you are going to try and why you want to try it. You have nothing to prove to anyone but yourself. Don’t allow dangerous antics to be part of facing your fears as they could cause you physical harm.
A calculated risk involves looking at the options and coming up with the best fitting solution for your needs. It helps to look at the common pitfalls and ways to avoid them. With this type of risk, you can significantly reduce the risk of failure.
Stay Positive
If you are positive, you can even get some great energy from your fears. Any time that they start to feel negative, twist them around. When you have positive thoughts, you will attract the success you really want. Focus on breathing regularly when you feel fear so that it won’t hold you down.
Focus on victories you have accomplished to help you stay positive. If you have only reached the part of your goal, you are still further than when you first began. Don’t let failure be all or nothing in your book.
Realistic
You don’t want to set yourself up for failure either. You need a realistic plan of action that isn’t too difficult or too easy. For example, your plan can’t be to lose 25 pounds but you don’t plan to change how you eat or to exercise. You may want to find a better job but you have to really be willing to learn some new skills if you want a better job.
In the next chapter, we will talk about a plan of action and how to use it to move forward in your life. As you do so, you will feel achievement, self-worth, and you will be happier!
In the end, we tend to really only regret the chances we didn’t take. That is why you have to face your fears and move forward. It isn’t always going to be easy, and it won’t always work out the way you want it to. Yet you won’t stay awake at night wishing you hadn’t let such an opportunity pass you by.
