Much of the writings on fear advocate that when you let fear guide you there is no room for love or success. Just block those fears that keep taking over your concerns about unemployment, career advancement, your child or parents health, or whatever fear seems to be ailing you. Contrary to what some believe, putting a smile on your face, being grateful for what you have, holding your head high and forging ahead, trusting in others to help, doesn't always mean that you have a handle on this fear factor.
Rather than dismiss those fears entirely and hope for the best, fears can be used to launch success rather than failure. Fear can drive people to change their tactics in the workplace which may offer better results for the organization. If you are afraid to win because a project may seem too daunting, fear may encourage you to just not fail day after day and it can be as simple as that.
Fear of unemployment may offer the opportunity to take risks that are not crazy but calculated. Many are halted in moving forward toward happiness because they tend to wait, hoping the fear will pass because they are afraid that life decisions followed by fear may not be the right ones. They have been taught that fear is negative and we need to be in a better place before we respond. However, life may be passing you by as you wait for that hallowed ground to change. Time is not always our friend. Fear is only dangerous when we let it consume us; when we can't eat, sleep and we have absolutely no desire to walk into a public room with that smile plastered on our faces.
To manage this controversial emotion, divide your fear into parts. Handle one aspect of the project, the conversation, job search today. One small success always builds on another. If the end result is in question, just focus on the process and accomplish what is not intimidating because by doing so you are building a better result, relationship and increasing your own self worth in letting fear open the next door, whether it be a personal or corporate success, you are focusing on the small first. Have a conversation not an ultimatum. Accept a criticism not a slap in the face.
JK Rowling was turned down by one publisher after another and Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Just handle one aspect of the big problem, one minute at a time and realize that fear may be alleviated for a time but can rush into your life full force without expecting it even when you think you had it licked. Fear is just a very real part of human life whether we deny it or not.
But, remember, that fear can be your greatest friend.
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