What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
If you knew you couldn’t fail – what would you do?
When thinking about this question what is your reaction? To immediately dismiss it as fanciful and a waste of your time…? I hope not.
I’d rather hoped that you would think of that opportunity you’ve put to the back of your mind. For some it will be something on the list of things to do one day, or maybe you’ve not even dared to dream of this but you’ve never quite forgotten.
What would you do if you knew that you couldn’t fail?
For some it might be a change of job or career that’s on the agenda. It could even be a complete lifestyle shift given the number of different TV programmes that are dealing with this subject at the moment! In work it could be writing that new programme, pitching that suggestion to the Head of Department, a new product launch, taking on more staff or opening a second office. Personal dreams might include learning to swim or sail or even hang-glide, writing your book, making a speech in front of an audience or maybe even proposing marriage!
What would you do if you knew that you couldn’t fail?
Assuming that I still have your attention, one reason this is holding your interest might be that you are looking for the push that will make you take action, the key that will free you from your own fear.
Fear.
Surely that’s too strong a word?! But if it’s not fear that’s holding you back, what are you waiting for? The right time, the opportunity, economic change, a message from God?
There are many reasons why we may choose not to take actions to make our dreams come true, but at the root of most of them is fear.
Fear of failure, of looking a fool, of rejection, of the unknown . we each have our own reasons for staying put. Better the devil you know and all that!
If you knew you couldn’t fail, if you knew that whatever happened you would be able to cope, would you try?!
Susan Jeffers explores these ideas in her excellent book, “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway!”.
She points out that fear doesn’t need to stop us doing anything, we can begin to manage our fear as we begin to believe that we have the ability to cope with whatever comes our way.
What opportunities are just waiting to be grasped, adventures to be lived, journeys to be made, if only we had the confidence to commit ourselves to them?
Jeffers explains some really useful tools that you can use to take action now, action that is within your power, within your grasp.
Just to give you a flavour – ways to reclaim your power include :
- Avoid blaming external things for where you are or how you feel. Nothing outside yourself can control how you think or feel unless you allow it to.
- Don’t blame yourself for not being in control. Right now you are doing the best you know how.
- Be aware of what you gain by staying stuck (familiarity, security.)
- There are always choices to be made about how you feel or respond in any situation
- Choose that which is positive and contributes to your growth.
If you would like to explore these ideas I can recommend you read the book yourself: Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway: How to Turn Your Fear and Indecision into Confidence and Action
If you buy the book, you won’t be disappointed, if you act on it, your life may never be the same.