Fear is an incredibly strong emotion, from an evolutionary position fear is imperative. Your pupils dilate to let in more light to better see your surrounding. Your heart races, pumping blood and adrenaline throughout your body as you prepare yourself to leap into action.
The problem is that today your fear is not caused by an animal stampede or a natural disaster it’s caused by you. And some of us are scaring ourselves into inaction.
Unfortunately, some of us have let fear take over our lives. Have you let fear decide where you go? What clothes do you wear? What do you post? The scariest part about fear having control is you’re not even aware of the cell you built or what is keeping you there.
In your prison of fear, you can only see your dreams you won’t be able to live them. If you started a business and have already invested time and money into it a failure is not an option. When you can’t fail you have to learn how to know when fear is holding you hostage. It’s only when you are aware that you are in your own way that you can move.
Here are six common signs that fear has taken your thoughts and actions captive:
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You think more about what could go wrong than what could go right
Negative thinking is fear preparing taking you into custody. When you focus on what could go wrong you only exploring negative experiences. You’ll begin to associate all your negative thoughts to the new opportunity. Now your wonderful opportunity is a terrible idea. And in one moment fear has succeeded in keeping you from moving forward.
Think positive thoughts and always remember whatever you imagine will always be worse than reality.
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You are procrastinating on your project
Another sign of fear is procrastination. If you are slow moving when it comes to working to build your business you’re not lazy, you’re afraid. In fact, you are so afraid that you have gone out of your way to stop yourself from progressing.
Get rid of the distractions and focus! Tell yourself that as soon as you are done your one step closer to your dream and you’ll be incredibly motivated.
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You choose activity over productivity
Although harder to recognize, activity for activity sake is a sign of fear. If you are participating in an act that cannot help you reach your goal in anyway, you chose activity over productivity. Activity is like pacing, technically you are in motion but you aren’t actually going anywhere.
Pick one goal to achieve for the day. If you accomplish it to make another goal. Don’t stop there, keep going! Soon you’ll see that you are moving in the right direction and you’ll willingly choose productivity.
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You are resistant to change
If you do not spring into action when an event changes your plans, you should know fear is causing your apprehension. Change is a constant force that affects every person’s lives. Change is incredibly unpredictable and yes, sometimes terrifying. But it’s necessary. Without change humans would still be hunting and gathering for food, there would be no internet, no cryptocurrency etc. Think about the ex you would still be with or the terrible job you would still have if there was never any change.
To grow, you’ll have to get used to adapting to your environment and learn to ebb and flow with the changes. Don’t forget to think positively. Remember you asked the universe for change when you asked for a better life.
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You don’t believe you can achieve your dreams
Self-doubt or imposter syndrome should be a red flag that fear is about to commandeer your life fear. You may feel like a fraud when you promote your business or talk to potential clients but you are not. Why? Because you have made it this far. To get where you are now you had to overcome many obstacles. You had to make a hopeless situation into an optimistic one. As a result of your fearlessness, you discovered your calling.
When you feel self-doubt, think back to how and why your dream started. The first step is to believe in yourself. Next step, convince yourself you can do it. Repeat your favorite affirmations, sing an inspiring song to yourself. Do whatever you have to regain your confidence.
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You take yourself too seriously
If you can’t laugh at yourself or point out your own flaws fear is undoubtedly controlling your thoughts. To grow, you have to be able to see when you’re acting irrationally so that you can change for the better. You’ll have to be able to accept your failures.
Reflect on your day and if there’s any moment that gives you butterflies in your stomach pause and asks to yourself why. These are the actions, thoughts or feelings you fear. This is what you’ll need to laugh at because once you laugh you’ll no longer be ashamed or embarrassed and fear will no longer keep you prisoner.
You are your biggest obstacle and you have to overcome yourself to break the mold around you to achieve your goals. No one can make you change and no one can overcome your fear for you. You are so strong and you have the ability to break free. I believe in you.