Heed your fears

People often ask me how they can get over their fears. For example, they are scared to quit their job and start a business. They want me to say something to make their fears go away. My advice is the opposite.

Pay attention to your fear. It often has good reason.

Don’t get over it. Get under it.

Instead of ignoring fears, address them. Look deeper into what’s inside them. Address and mitigate the specifics. Maybe you need to learn a little more. Look before you leap.

Always ask, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Because sometimes the only problem was not realizing that the worst case scenario isn’t bad at all.

But don’t just tell yourself to get over it or ignore it.

well

Your thoughts?
Please leave a reply:


Comments

  1. Janis (2019-10-13)

    What a nice short peace of work. :) Thank you and have a great day Derek.

  2. Sean Crawford (2019-10-13)

    Hi Derek,
    for your readers, here is a link to a book on procrastination you made notes for yourself about.
    sive.rs/book/NowHabit

    I write this because another "fear thing" to heed is the secret reason behind any of our procrastinations. No, it is not just fear, and not just laziness. Folks, let's be gentle on ourselves.

    Sometimes, from paying attention, I realize I am procrastinating because my better judgement tells me, "This is stupid."

  3. A (2019-10-13)

    Whenever I am very afraid of something, I simulate by looking at it like it's been over for 6 months. It helps a lot.

  4. Piin Huann (2019-10-13)

    Or, they are not used to doing something new/fresh therefore the irrational fear made them think that it is something very dangerous. Maybe they should read your advice of "Whatever scares you, go do it!"

  5. Thomas Becker (2019-10-13)

    There is this scene in an old Friends episode where Chandler is afraid of walking over to a girl that he would like to meet, and Rachel says, "Just go, what's the worst that could happen?" And he says, "I could die."

  6. Anil (2019-10-13)

    There's this very good framework by Tim Ferriss on fear. He also delivered the TED talk on this: www.ted.com/talks/tim_ferriss_why_you_should_define_your_fears_instead_of_your_goals

  7. Race Knower (2019-10-14)

    Sometimes I don't want to entertain my fears. Well no not sometimes but evertime Fears come from no where; single thoughts that can deliver an unwelcome message. I wonder if it's true and will it come to pass. I do my best to brush them aside. Why should I believe them.

  8. sal (2019-10-23)

    I think my problem is that I don't know what's the worse that could happen.

  9. BONFACE (2024-11-24)

    Thanks for this.

    We obsess on the negative and leave the positive part of it.