If you have ever hesitated about speaking up, sharing your opinion, or pursuing an important goal, you are not alone. Many people believe that fear or hesitation is a sign of weakness. In reality it just means we are human. It is coming from subconscious programming that is meant to keep us safe. Once you recognize it for what it is, however, you move past it and courageously pursue all of your goals and attractive opportunities.
In this article, we will look at two essential practices that will help you reframe fear and show up with courage and clarity every day.
If you prefer to watch instead of read, I’ve also shared this message in a video version of the blog you can check out here.
Step 1: Recognize Your Hesitation For What It Is
Fear often shows up in ways we do not typically label as fear. You might observe it to be procrastination, overwhelm, or “analysis paralysis.” But these are all survival responses created by your subconscious mind to keep you safe.
From an evolutionary standpoint, our brains were conditioned to see anything new or different as a potential threat. That translates to hesitation whenever you consider something new to you or outside of your existing comfort zone.
The key to working past these obstacles is awareness. When you notice that you are hesitating you can do a quick threat analysis.
Ask yourself: Is there truly anything dangerous about this situation?
- If yes, pause and adjust.
- If no, it is time to reprogram your response.
Once you decide that it is safe to move forward, you can speak directly to your subconscious, either out loud and silently in your mind. You will want to tell it that your plan or contemplated action is completely safe. Tell it that you will continue to be OK and that this is the best action for you at this time.
Then, take a small action step right away. If you start with the smallest possible action, you will not experience resistance to it. And when your subconscious “sees” you moving forward safely, it will begin to recognize that you are safe. The resistance that you were experiencing will dissipate.
Step 2: Develop Your Inner Knowing for Fearless Confidence
While calming your subconscious is powerful, the quickest path to being fearless comes from cultivating trust in your inner wisdom or intuition. This is the guidance within you that’s always ready to lead you in the direction and most aligned actions possible, for your highest good.
When you develop and learn to trust your inner wisdom, fear or any hesitation will fade because you are no longer questioning whether you are making the best decisions and on the right track. Instead, you will be grounded in trust and enthusiasm for your path.
Faith in your inner wisdom makes space for fearless action. You will no longer be paralyzed by doubt. Instead, you will be energized by clarity.
Fearless Living Is a Practice
Becoming fearless is not a destination. It will be a skill that you can continue to develop as you challenge yourself to step into new opportunities. Through being intentional in developing this skill, you will quickly recognize hesitation for what it really is. And lean into your inner wisdom for clarification and assurance.
The more you practice, the easier it becomes to move forward with courage, speak up authentically, and pursue your goals without second-guessing.
