Turn Your Fear Into Fuel: 3 Ways to Manage Fear to Achieve Your Professional Goals
Fear is a natural human emotion. Though it’s normal to be afraid of new experiences and opportunities, these fears can often hold us back from achieving our true potential. The fear of failure is perhaps the biggest fear that keeps people from accomplishing their personal and professional goals. But the good news is that you can use your fear as fuel for success.
The key to managing your fears effectively is maintaining focus. Though you may often have a voice inside your head telling you that you should be afraid or you will fail, it’s vital that you take control of that voice and learn to manage these anxieties and self-doubts. You may not be able to control what you fear, but you do have complete control over how you manage these fears and what you do to overcome them.
How to Manage Your Fears
There are many ways that fear can cripple us and keep us from doing our best. Next time you find yourself facing anxiety or self-doubt, use the following tactics to manage your fears:
1. Find your voice.
It can be so easy to get wrapped up in what others think or feel about your ability to achieve your goals. Though your friends, family, and colleagues may be well meaning when they offer unsolicited advice or give their opinion, it is vital that you remain true to your own ambitions and motivations. You can work to find your voice by writing down your goals and placing them somewhere that you can clearly see them each day. This is one of the best ways to remind yourself of what you are working toward – the thing that is worth all the fears you are struggling to overcome.
2. Focus on the positive.
On your journey to professional success, it can be quite easy to get bogged down in all the negatives, especially after you experience setbacks and failures. However, dwelling on the negative will not allow you to reach the right mindset that will help you achieve your full potential. Instead of focusing on all of the things that can or have gone wrong, bring an attitude of positivity to how you view yourself and those around you each day. You may not have control of certain circumstances, but you do have control of how you react to them, so choose to react positively.
3. Recognize what you can control.
Another way to manage your fears effectively is to recognize what you can control in any given situation. When you start to feel the fear creeping in, identify what you have the power to change and what you do not. Then, focus your efforts on making positive changes where you can. There is no use in dwelling on past mistakes or living with regret. This can cause you to miss the new opportunities that are presented to you and force you to overlook the positive changes that you can make in the present. Instead of focusing on the things that you cannot change, look at what you can and go from there.
Reaching Out to Your Network to Overcome Fear
Overcoming fear is one of the most difficult things you will ever have to do. Like most things in life, it is easier to accomplish this feat with the help of others. That is why it is important to reach out to those in your network who have experienced the same fears. They can give you advice on how to overcome these fears and may even be help you anticipate future challenges you may have to overcome.
Connecting With Women Who Have Been There
There is a good chance that as a female professional you are experiencing unique challenges that your male co-workers may not face. One of the best ways to overcome these distinct fears and banish your self-doubt is to connect with other women professionals who have been in your shoes. By connecting with other women in the business world, you may just find new ways to manage the fears that are holding you back from success.
The International Association of Women (IAW) offers a variety of resources that can help you connect with other women just like you. Join today to take part in our special networking events that allow you to meet other women who are on a similar journey.
