10 ways to feel the fear and do it anyway

Call it Imposter Syndrome, call it the wobbles, call it the voice of reason. Whenever you step out of your comfort zone, fear will pop up and try to talk you out of it.

There are scientific, evolutionary reasons for this – safety to your mind equals the familiar – so when you do anything new, your subconscious panics and tries to bring you back to your comfort zone – and what it perceives as familiar and safe.

The problem is, nothing great happens in your comfort zone. If you want to reach your potential, you’ve got to take some risks.

Here are my top 10 ways to feel that fear, and do it anyway.

1)      Make sure your vision is bigger than your fear

2)      Remember why you’re doing this – and use that ‘why’ whenever it gets scary

3)      Lower the stakes – set ‘good, better, best’ goals so there’s less pressure on the outcome – less ‘pass or fail’ pressure

4)      Change your state. Think of a person who you adore. Feel that love and adoration through your body. Act from that place instead of a fearful place in your body.

5)      Make it a habit. Whether it’s a Power Hour, or a consistent daily habit, build daily bravery into your routine so it becomes second nature

6)      And Eat That Frog! Do the hardest/scariest thing first, get it out of the way, and the rest of the day will seem easier.

7)      Tell somebody. It’s like good peer pressure! The accountability will force you to do it

8)      Negative consequences. Give yourself a deadline, and if you don’t take action, you have to do something you really hate, like give £100 to a political party whose ideology you despise.

9)      Give somebody a compliment. Or gracefully receive one. Basking in the warm glow will make it easier to do hard things.

10)   Reward yourself. Have something to look forward to when you’ve taken action – a nice cup of coffee will do

 I’d love to know which of these resonates, and which you’re going to try!