Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones. – Thich Nhat Hanh
Fear is an emotion we all feel in one situation or another. But some people could be more prone to anxiety than others, and there are circumstances where this feeling could begin influencing your progress. Let’s see how you can recognize that this is happening.
The first sign is that you let fear stop you from doing things you want to do. It’s one thing not to, say, do an extreme sport because you have no interest in it. It’s another one to let it prevent you from actually going for the things you want. Recognize if you have a genuine desire that the fear is interfering with.
The second thing to consider is that fear has an important function. It’s meant to protect you from danger, not shield you from your life. Ask yourself how many times it interferes with your life in your daily routine. It should not be going beyond preventing you from doing things that might be truly dangerous. Consider the decisions you make every day to avoid the fear or lessen it. Often, you might discover you are limiting far too many things.
The next element of fear to think about is that often it keeps you from growing. Ask yourself where do you want to be in life. Do you want to grow as a person? As a professional? Were there situations where fear kept you back from these goals?
Consider the progress you want to be making. What will you have to face to advance? Maybe it’s a fear of public speaking, of being judged, of being rejected… It’s not easy to grapple with these fears, however, often, there are no other alternatives.
Recognize and become aware of your fear. In this way, you can improve your progress and begin moving towards the place you want to be in.
You don’t have to challenge your fear, sure. But if you don’t, ask yourself how many of your goals you will be able to achieve. Ask yourself if the life you will build is the one you want.
