Fight Fear and Embrace Growth: Strategies for Success
Hello! I’m Denise G Lee, an entrepreneur coach. From my experience, one of the hardest things my clients deal with is fear, especially when trying something new. This fear can be overwhelming and turn exciting chances into scary challenges.
That’s why I’ve written this post—to teach you how to fight your fears so you can seize new opportunities with confidence and grace. This is especially important for those of you who are in recovery from some form of trauma and/or addiction.
That’s why we will talk about why we fear and provide you solutions to help you overcoming it. By the end, you’ll have practical tools to help you fight fear and embrace growth.
With that being said, let’s talk about what fear and why it is keeps us still and trapped.
Why We Fear
When I was growing up, I loved watching “I Love Lucy.” Lucy’s funny faces were great because you could really feel how anxious, fearful, and scared she was about how her husband Ricky would react.
We all have been there, in moments where we felt afraid of what may or may not happen next. And how we deal with those fears are really tell a lot as to how you have been trained to deal with fear.
Maybe you grew up in a place where people tried hard to avoid or control outcomes. As a result, you might become a perfectionist, checking every possible solution to any problem, or you might become a procrastinator, avoiding tasks or leaving them to the last minute. Sadly, living and working like this can lead to failure and health problems.
Dealing with emotions is one issue, but another challenge people face with fear is the added responsibility that comes with trying something new. Let’s discuss why some people fear new things, even if they could help them achieve their personal and professional goals.
Maybe you feel like your plate is already full and adding even one more thing may feel too much. So you just rather avoid and never learn how to fight through the fear of the unknown.
Reasons Why We Avoid New Opportunities
In order to grow, we all have to reach out and try new things. Unfortunately, for some people, this can actually be overwhelming. In this section, let’s discuss some reasons why people stay stuck even though they know they are limiting their opportunities.
Reason #1: We Fear the Unknown
Trying new things can make us anxious because our brains like what’s familiar and safe. It can be even harder if friends and family don’t support new ideas, making it tough to explore new possibilities. How we fight our fears is largely influenced by what we have learned through observing others.
For example, maybe you want to move to a new city to expand your business, but fear keeps you stuck. You or your loved ones will express concerns of affordable housing, limited social life or other issues.
Reason #2: Comfort in Familiarity
For many of us, we have one or maybe two favorite places where we like to buy food or get services because they’re consistent and trustworthy. That’s normal! Routines give us a sense of safety, and changing them can feel uncomfortable. Unfortunately, many of us resist change, even when things aren’t going well.
For instance, imagine you need to expand your team, but your longtime assistant, who you trust and are used to, isn’t willing or able to adapt their skills to help your business grow and scale. And to make it worse, your assistant has not learned to fight through the fear of change. But while you’re comfortable with them, but you’re starting to realize they may not be capable of supporting your business’s future needs.
The pure irony of risk aversion lies in the fact that by not taking action and remaining stuck, you're essentially taking the biggest risk of all. You're gambling on something or someone rescuing you from your fears, but that's not how it works. In reality, choosing inaction only leads to stagnation and missed opportunities.
Reason #3: Risk Aversion
A few years ago, I was discussing a way to expand my online reach with someone. Despite the plan seeming simple enough and promising a good return on investment, I didn’t pursue it. The truth is, it seemed too risky, and I believed sticking to my current strategy was the best option.
Can you relate to being afraid of trying new things? Too many of us prefer to stay stuck with things because we fear:
- The plan: We don’t know it will be a success.
- Other people: So many have disappointed us.
- Ourselves: We may have sabotaged ourselves too many times to count..
That is why you aren’t investing in growing your business, because the money you think is enough. Or maybe you’re reading articles because you don’t believe that talking with someone like me is worth the investment. The reasons are endless to the reasons why we avoid things that could actually help us grow personally and professionally.
The biggest risk is doing nothing
The pure irony of risk aversion lies in the fact that by not taking action and remaining stuck, you’re essentially taking the biggest risk of all. You’re gambling on something or someone rescuing you from your fears, but that’s not how it works. In reality, choosing inaction only leads to stagnation and missed opportunities. To grow, you must embrace risk and take initiative to shape your own path forward.
Take the leap and ask for support. There are people who care about you and want to help you. Don’t know how to ask for help? This article may help you.
Reason #4: Impostor Syndrome
We’ve all been there—feeling unqualified despite having the passion, desire, or talents to compete in business (or in life). Maybe you’re there right now, feeling the need to justify your actions to family, friends, prospects, or even yourself.
When I started my coaching journey, everyone talked about imposter syndrome. The idea that people feel undeserving of new opportunities due to their background or other aspects of their lives. This is nonsense! Everyone who steps into new opportunities is untested—that’s why it’s called a promotion! This concept applies just as much in the business world.
Trying to Prove Ones Worth
I think of someone I know who worked hard to become a partner in his organization, only to miss important deadlines because he doubted whether his ideas were good enough.
Instead of delegating research to his paralegal, he did it all himself. This excessive researching took time away from learning about his practice’s operations. Ironically, his strength in research was actually holding him back professionally. He told me, “As the only black man in this area who is a partner, I want to prove beyond doubt that I belong here.” It’s a sad situation, but stories like these are more common than you might think.
Reason #5: Change Requires Effort (And That Sucks!)
Let’s say you take the leap to move, change, or ask for help—the next step is maintaining the momentum that comes with growth. Yes, any change, even positive ones, require effort to adapt and grow. You know this if you’ve tried to gain or lose weight, learn a new language, or teach something new to your team. It takes effort to stay positive, upbeat, and enthusiastic even when things aren’t going well.
This effort can feel burdensome, especially if you already have many responsibilities. Maybe your plate feels full already, and adding one more thing seems overwhelming. So, it might seem easier to avoid it altogether and never learn how to overcome the fear of the unknown.
I’ve listed five reasons why you might struggle with fear. Which one is the most challenging for you? Or how have you learned to fight through your fears? Let me know by sending me a message here.
Next, let’s discuss seven tips you can conquer the fear of the unknown and new challenges.
How to Fight Your Fears: 7 Powerful Tips to Embrace and Overcome New Challenges
1. Knowledge and Preparation
We fear what we don’t understand. Learn more about what worries you. Whether it’s starting something new, moving, or changing careers, understanding the details can make the unknown less scary. Get ready by gathering information, making plans, and setting realistic goals.
2. Gradual Exposure
You don’t have to put all your money and pride on the line all at once. Ease into unfamiliar situations step by step. Instead of jumping in all at once, take small actions that help you get used to the new experience slowly. This can reduce fear and build your confidence over time
3. Challenge Negative Thoughts
Is what you are telling yourself really what is happening? Fear often comes from thinking unrealistically or imagining the worst-case scenarios. Question these negative thoughts by asking if they are based on facts. Replace them with more balanced and realistic views.
4. Seek Support and Encouragement
We all need a little help from our friends. Surround yourself with people who encourage you and see your potential. Share your fears and goals with trusted friends, family, or mentors who can offer advice and support. They may tell you how they fought through fears in ways that seem practical and easy to do.
5. Visualization and Positive Imagery:
Use your imagination to visualize success and imagine overcoming challenges. Picture yourself confidently facing difficulties and achieving your goals. We can trick ourselves into excelling through imagining ourselves already conquering what currently scares us.
It's not just about what you know but also about your determination to overcome challenges. Success starts in your mind.
6. Set Realistic Goals
No one wakes up one day and decides to compete in an ultramarathon. They master the 1k, 5k, and several marathons before taking on the big challenge. Apply this idea to your current challenges. Break your big goals into smaller, manageable tasks. Celebrate each step forward to boost your confidence in handling new challenges effectively.
7. Learn from Experience
Recall moments when you faced fear and came out successful. These experiences remind you of your strength to handle uncertainty. Take lessons from overcoming past challenges and apply them now to grow and succeed.
By using these strategies, you can build your resilience against fear and uncertainty. Facing new opportunities becomes less scary when you have practical ways to manage your emotions and take steps toward growth. Remember, facing fear is a skill that gets better with practice and self-awareness.
The image below summarizes my thoughts on how to fight through your fears. Next, I will share my final thoughts.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article inspires you. To conquer your fears and succeed, you need to find the passion within yourself. It’s not just about what you know but also about your determination to overcome challenges. Success starts in your mind.
Need more help eliminating your fear? Check out this other post. Also, feel free to contact me. Together, we can make a plan to face your fears and achieve your goals with confidence.
Interested in learning more about overcoming fear? Listen to this episode of my entrepreneur podcast.
