HOW TO CHANGE YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH FEAR
AND STOP IT IMPACTING YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS
It is natural to deny or ignore fear , but doing so can create deeper problems . By learning when to listen to fear , we can use it to our advantage rather than be controlled by it , writes psychologist Dr Amy Silver .
W e all have fears , many of which keep us safe and well .
Fear ’ s job is to warn us of danger and avoid risk . It wants us to avoid anything which would cause physical or social pain . But how much does fear interfere with our good choices ?
Fear wants to keep us away from discomfort but if we listen to it all the time , does it steer us away from growth or opportunity ? Does our fear of rejection , failure , exclusion , being different , having to change , being vulnerable or showing weakness , limit what we could do or who we could be ?
As well as limiting us from gains we could make , fear also leads to distress and feelings of anxiety or worry . We may have a fear of missing out , being overlooked , being seen , speaking up , standing up or of being taken advantage of .
What is fear ?
There are biological , evolutionary , and social reasons why our fear is triggered - we are , after all , simple animals . Learning how to override our fear is essential in helping us fulfil our potential . If left unchecked , fear can control everything we do . We become a bystander , commanded by the voice of fear as it triggers biochemical reactions that cause us to fight , flight or play dead .
I think of fear as a guest at our party , and we are the host . We are the ones who should get to decide what to do , not fear . Even if fear is the loudest guest , commanding our choices and movements , we as the host must elevate ourselves into the position of control .
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