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Get Empowered To Overcome Your Fears

17 May

Anxiety, stress, and nervousness. Three words that my friend Dr. Robert Maurer would surely call “adulterated words for fear”. Could it be that we’re too afraid of fear to call it by its name?

Fear, as we’re taught in psychology 101, is one of the basic human emotions. I like to call it the ubiquitous emotion. It originates from our fight-or-flight response, a brain mechanism installed to keep us from being eaten by a bigger predator.

But in our 21st Century modernized world, how much of our fear is actually adaptive? What percentage of the fear you experience each day actually helps you escape a real danger? Not much. So then what percentage is not adaptive? 90%? 100%? What are the fears that hinder you from doing, saying, even feeling, what you really want? Have you named them? Are you aware of them?

I think understanding and resolving our fears is one of the greatest challenges we face. Particularly for my generation, young people building new careers in what could only be called a difficult economic climate. Fear is everywhere. It’s in the media, politics, business, communities, and in every single human heart you’ll meet. That’s why I think it’s better to embrace it and talk about it, rather than deny it or silence it.

Fear-Less-Ness

There’s a lot to be said about mitigating fear, but for now let’s start with just a few of my favorite resources for overcoming fear:

1. fear.less is a free online magazine that empowers people through unique stories of overcoming fear. From entrepreneurs, business leaders, artists and scientists to survivors of extreme experiences, these stories demonstrate the hidden potential we have to confront our fears and come out victorious. Click here to download the new May issue.

2. I also recommend On Becoming Fearless by Arianna Huffington, arguably one of the most courageous women of our time. (That’s not an affiliate link, just a book I like.) Arianna takes an intimate look at how she overcomes fear in every area of life: career, motherhood, politics, and more.

3. One of the best discussions of fear I’ve read is Robert Maurer’s One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way. When all else fails in conquering a fear to make a positive change, Kaizen works because it circumvents our natural fear of change. (That was also not an affiliate link, just one of my favorite books.)

Wise Words on The Ubiquitous Emotion

“Fear is the father of courage and the mother of safety.”

- Henry H. Tweedy

“He has not learned the lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson (my emphasis added)

“Fearlessness is not the absence of fear. It’s the mastery of fear. It’s about getting up one more time than we fall down.”
- Arianna Huffington

Please have the courage to leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you!
Lisa

What’s your competitive edge?

16 January

As I’ve been listening to these CDs on my drive time, I’ve reflected on the different success factors that predict people who will have long-term success in the areas of health, relationship, and career.

Here is what I’ve jotted down for myself:

Your competitive edge is…

  • Your intention to be a greater asset for your team
  • Your ability to adapt
  • Your ability to make small consistent improvements
  • Your courage to name your fears
  • Your willingness to ask for help

I’d love to hear what you think will be your own personal success factors for 2011. Please send me a comment and let me know.

Resist the urge to innovate

02 January

Happy New Year!

If you’re like the millions (dare I say billions?) of people who are writing their New Year’s Resolutions this week, it might be wise to consider a few things:

  • Perhaps that’s because people try to enforce resolutions on themselves that are about “avoiding the stick” (negative consequences) rather than going “towards the carrot” (positive rewards). Consider focusing on what you want to create more of, not less. Even if you’re choosing the world’s most popular resolution (to quit smoking), try having a positive affirmation for your health instead of being against the smoking.
  • Resist the urge to innovate. Innovations are more difficult to implement, and become increasingly difficult to sustain over time. Although we all love the idea of a “clean break”, a “fresh start” and “wiping the slate”, the truth is that 2010 was less than 48 hours ago. Begin living the life you want, not because it’s New Year’s, but because every moment is an opportunity to begin again.
  • Embrace the microscopic changes. Small steps circumvent the “fight or flight” brain response to any major change. We’re more likely to stick with small steps than with big resolutions, because big changes are further outside of our comfort zones. What is the smallest step you would be willing to take, every day, to move towards your goal?

What about you? How do you use the first few days of a new year to envision your success, without over-planning, over-committing, or overwhelming yourself? Are you doing anything special to gear up for 2011? Please post a comment below.

Wishing you a productive, fruitful and, above all, fun 2011.

Lisa