Fear is Proof You’re Living
Fear Doesn’t Mean Stop
Most of us see fear as something to avoid, silence, or push away. But, what if fear was actually a sign that you’re exactly where you need to be? What if everything you’ve been taught about fear wasn’t actually about your safety, but your complacency?
For most of us, fear tends to show up in two big ways. One is when you’re stepping into something new. You’re uncertain, unsure, and maybe even a little terrified; causing you to second-guess everything you thought you knew. But, those feelings come up because you’re growing, evolving, and expanding; not because you’re in danger. The other is when you deeply care about something. You fear losing it, messing it up, or not doing it “right”; this is where the cliche is the risk worth the reward comes into play. These worries present themselves because the thing actually means something to you.
But, we’ve been made to believe having these bad feelings is “bad”; that they represent a stop sign for our survival. And that is the opposite of what is meant to come from fear, because it isn’t working against you! Fear is highlighting what matters most in your life and we aren’t meant to run from that or hold it so tight it breaks.
Fear Means You’re Fully Engaged in Life
Think about the moments in your life when fear has been at its loudest! You may remember when you were:
Starting a new job.
Beginning a health journey.
Making a big decision.
Speaking up for yourself.
Starting a family.
And the list goes on… But, when you think of those moments now, after the fact, what emotions come up? My guess is happiness, excitement, relief, joy, curiosity, and desire were in there somewhere.
That’s because those initial fear-based moments weren’t times to back down and change your mind. They were moments where you were on the edge of something meaningful; and you’re internal voice was telling you to leap, be messy, and take the risk.
You see, fear doesn’t show up when you’re stuck; it shows up when you’re moving! So, how do we lean into that fear, rather than move away from it?
How to Work with Fear
You aren’t the only one who struggles to take action when you’re scared. So, the next time fear is keeping you frozen, try this:
Pause & Acknowledge It – Instead of pushing fear away, accept it. You don’t have to judge it or label it as something negative, you just need to be curious with it. Ask yourself: What is this telling me? Am I stepping into growth, or does this mean I care deeply about something?
Reframe the Narrative – Let go of the reactive, toxic thinking, like “I’m scared”, “This is bad”, or “I shouldn’t do this”. Those thoughts aren’t serving you. Rewire your brain to focus on the positivity by replacing those negative thoughts with something like “I’m scared, which means I’m pushing my limits in the best way and that’s okay.”.
Trust Yourself Through It – The people who succeed aren’t fearless, okay? Everyone is scared of something, the difference is that they don’t let fear keep them from playing the game. They simply choose to move forward anyway, with the fear in the passenger seat.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let fear deceive you anymore; it’s proof, not a warning sign.
Proof that you’re stretching.
Proof that you’re evolving.
Proof that you’re investing in the things that make life meaningful.
And that is something worth leaning into! Now, I’d love to hear from you. Have you ever rethought your relationship with fear? Email me at info.khhllc@gmail.com and let’s talk about it!
