I’ve been asked to elaborate on the concept of dancing with fear.
There’s always an element of risk when we try something new. However, avoiding new challenges might be the biggest risk of all. Change is the only constant in modern life. Avoidance will take us nowhere. And fast. We have to leap to soar.
Yes, we can be afraid. In fact, we need to feel fear because it is a sign that there’s something at stake; that something is worth taking a risk. This is when we need to stand up to the obstacles and choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tides.
So how do we move from fear to freedom? It’s actually simple - we need to acknowledge our fears but forge ahead anyway taking one choiceful action at a time. Building mental strength and resiliency is like building physical strength and stamina - the more we exercise the stronger and better at it we get.
As it pertains to personal goals and achievement, dancing with fear has three key elements:
Purpose & Clarity: Knowing what you are going after, what you hope to achieve and why. You don’t want to get to the top of the ladder to realize it’s leaning against the wrong wall.
Perspective & Joy: know what motivates you, be inspired, and experience joy. When you wake up every morning happy and ready to start your day, you know you are on the right path. And when fear intrudes uninvited, flip it over. Instead of focusing on the negative and all the different ways you can fail, focus on all the gifts you have to offer and imagine yourself wildly successful.
Preparation & Flexibility: having a dream isn’t enough, you need a road map. Set clear goals and create a detailed plan. It’s not enough to imagine the top; you need to be willing to make the climb up. And pick yourself up when you stumble, dust yourself off and move forward until you succeed. Prepare for the journey ahead and be ready to adjust course along the way.
To learn more about letting go of fear, check out the Sedona Method. The premise is that danger is real but fear is just a product of the thoughts we create. Fear stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear is a choice. We can continue to live as if terrible things will happen, or let go and create new thoughts and actions.
I invite you to step out of your comfort zone and become comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Do something that scares you.
Write a response back and share your experience with me. I’d love to hear from you.
