Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Transforming Fear Into Courage Is Your Choice

Have you ever allowed fear to sap your motivation? If so, you are probably familiar with the heavy sense of frustration that inevitably results in the abandonment of goals and dreams – no matter how badly you may want to achieve them.

However, you don’t have to allow fear to hinder your actions and destroy your goals! With a simple shift in perspective, you can transform fear into courage and optimism and use them to your advantage.

If you’re like most people, you’re probably used to seeing the negative side of situations. Not only do you tend to focus more on the challenges instead of the benefits in each situation, you may also hesitate to take action because of the potential negative risks involved. Wanting to move forward may not provide enough incentive to overcome these fears, so you continuously hold yourself back and accomplish far less than you’re capable of.
However, if you learn to shift your focus from what you stand to lose in each situation and instead focus on what you might gain, you’ll probably find yourself feeling more courageous and eager to take action!

You may find it helpful to make a list of any specific fears you have and get them out in the open. In each situation that makes you feel fearful, consider exactly what is holding you back. What do you fear happening and why? Are those things likely to happen, or is there only a slight chance?

Then use a separate sheet of paper and create a list of benefits you stand to gain by moving forward. Be as specific – and optimistic - as you can. Remember that dread and fear often seem to amplify the negative possibilities, which can make the positive benefits seem smaller or less important, so you may need to work a little harder to emphasize the positive.

Looking over these two lists should give you a more balanced view of your options and provide the clarity you need to decide whether to move forward or not. You may decide that you have valid reasons to hang back a bit longer, and it’s okay to do that! If you see that the possible negative consequences are more than you’re willing to accept at this time, you can either come up with less risky steps to take, or simply hold off and reevaluate at a later time.
If you do decide that the time to take action is now, you may need to work on building up your courage a bit before you do. Remember that the only one with the power to hold you back is YOU. At its core, motivation is largely the determination to conquer any fear, hesitation or excuse that threatens to hold you back.

Most importantly of all, don’t trick yourself into believing that you have to be completely fearless before moving toward your goals! The most successful people in the world would probably tell you that they eventually had to resolve to move forward despite their fear and uncertainty!

Courage is absolutely a choice, and fear does not have the power to sap your motivation and strength unless you decide to let it.

44 comments:

  1. That list thing is actually a really good idea. I may have to try that sometime.

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  2. Love the post, and its probberbly true that you have to respect your goals!

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  3. Row row fight the power. KICK REASON TO THE CURB AND DO THE IMPOSSIBLE... that's always a quote I think of to get me going.

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  4. Your stuff is always awesome. Props man, props.

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  5. This post is really motivational. Made me wanna kick ass!

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  6. I really love your posts, man. And I agree 100% This one makes me wanna take on the world. Now where are my boxing gloves . . .

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  7. this is very true. i play rugby for my uni. often times at a ruck it's just right. whose the biggest guy in their defence...him...i'm going to make him my bitch....

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  8. very interesting! thanks!

    http://all-around-toto.blogspot.com/

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  9. great read! motivation is everything in this world too

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  10. That dog at the bottom is amazing. Really, he looks like a total gangsta.

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  11. You have some really enjoyable posts. Keep it up.

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  12. I was going to comment on this. But then I got afraid.

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  13. I feel all motivated now. :) Thanks.

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  14. Really awesome blog! Please keep it up, i like and love your writing!

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  15. Making lists seems to be the fix for many problems.

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  16. well writen .. I like the puppy fist :3

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  17. I fully agree with it being perception.

    I also though like to stress the caution of going too far with expectations of changing yourself. This can lead to a gap in your self esteem and cause anxiety about not being where you "believe you should"

    Who's awesome? You're awesome. :)

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  18. Well written! Keep up the great work!

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  19. A mind over matter thing for sure

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  20. a good way to motivate yourself to do something is to tell people you know your plans, then you will do them to avoid the fear of being embarrassed

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  21. Very good read, keep it up man.

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  22. I love how in depth you go with your posts. I also feel more motivated. :D

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  23. good post.. nice things to read on a blog :)

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  24. Great advice. Thanks for sharing it!

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  25. good motivational. Fear does like to get you a lot when it comes to doing stuff. That's what happens when the human race runs on ego.

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  26. Thanks for the info. I'm a realist but i see the positive sides. I hope this helps someone. Also, I need $upport, just sayin. :(

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  27. This actually made my day.It´s hard to find the courage to keep on going sometimes, but we must do it nevertheless.

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  28. This was very interesting, but the ad for the silvalifesystem was VERY interesting. I've had some great mediation recordings for a long time but just keep putting off putting them to use.

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  29. Fear is a motivation for me. if something is overpowering and im fearful i remind myself how much stronger i will be for confronting said fear.

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  30. Lists help. If you're like me (A procrastinator) it can seem like there are just simply too many things to do in life and you end up not doing any of them because "you don't know where to start." If you have a list you can figure out where to start and each time you cross an item out you feel your shoulders relaxing as you don't feel as heavy burdened. It also helps if you wake up before noon!

    ~H. Coct

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  31. Another excellent and motivational post. I think that only problem is I haven't found I needed.

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  32. I've read a lot of these and been working hard. My motivation is almsot at the peak

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  33. =D And the ''whos awesome'' dog!!!

    Wow this really motivates me to do something... to bad today is friday... im not going to do ANYTHING=D

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  34. FOLLOW!!!:) I love weight loss items and everything about losing weight.

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