Our natural tendency when faced with risk is to simply freeze or even to retreat. The skill of overcoming fear in these moments allows us to maintain progress towards our goals instead of losing momentum.
What if, instead of always playing it safe, we learned to consciously slow down, engage our intuition and keep moving forward in measured steps? Where could that take us?
Arguably, the best experiences lie just outside of our comfort zone, so in order to continue to learn and grow, we need to take a little calculated risk.
I remember a pivotal moment when I was 21 and my then boyfriend recommended that I read Susan Jeffers’ book, “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway’ – it was eye-opening to say the least.
First published over 30 years ago, this classic self-help book can teach you how to handle what life throws at you, allowing you to move through feelings of fear, to take control, move forwards and live the life you want.
“Every time you encounter something that forces you to “handle it,” your self-esteem is raised considerably. You learn to trust that you will survive, no matter what happens. And in this way your fears are diminished immeasurably.”
― Susan Jeffers, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway®: Dynamic techniques for turning Fear, Indecision and Anger into Power, Action and Love
At that moment in time, my beliefs fostered by a conservative British upbringing in a working-class family were challenged by my boyfriend’s vastly different experience of being told by his affluent, upper-class parents that he could have anything he chose in life – just go for it! My world literally opened up to new possibilities.
So next time you’re faced with a feeling of fear about something you want to achieve, of course calculate and mitigate the risks where possible, then simply take a leaf out of Susan Jeffers book and “Feel the fear and do it anyway!”.
