5 Steps To Overcoming Your Fears
Are you…..
Scared of making a vital call?
Worried about sending an email to that contact?
Fearful about making a big decision?
…..do you consequently feel paralysed and powerless?
Ok, try following these steps:
1) Write down EXACTLY what you’re scared of
Is it losing your job? Is it the prospect of never finding a ‘proper job’ , is it financial?
2. Write down the worst thing that could happen if you did the thing you’re trying to avoid doing?
Play out the worst case scenario
3) Take an educated guess at the chances of that fear actually becoming a reality
Very often, we fear the worst when in fact there is very little chance of the worst becoming a reality. So we allocate excessive time and energy thinking about it – which, of course, is completely irrational.
4) Write down the TWO biggest things you can do to minimize impact of the worst case scenario
Part of handling fear is taking some control in a given situation. So list two specific actions you could take so as to have more control and handle whatever consequences come up.
5) Quickly take the first step (e.g. send a text, make a call, send an email)
By quick – I mean in the next 24 hours.
When you take yourself through these 5 steps, you often realise how irrational your fear is. You realise that you’re spending 50% of your time fearing an outcome which may only have a 5 or 10% chance of actually occuring. And if that worst case scenario did play out, you’ve got some key actions to minimize the impact of it.
These steps immediately give you the courage to do the things you fear the most and so help you break out of that self imposed prison called F-E-A-R (…..False Evidence Appearing Real)
Article by, Sital Ruparelia and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.
