The answer to the question posed in the title is yes. Let’s look at this in some detail. Living through the challenges of the pandemic affect all of us in some ways, more for some people than for others. Yet, we all strive for success in our businesses and in our lives. However, there are times such as these when fear gets in our way. It is a part of our "inner game" in contrast with our "outer game". These are times when often we are faced with something we have never done. For many, it’s coping with the changing nature of businesses. For others, it’s how to adapt to changed home life, finances, and the education of our children. Coping with changes can bring out our inner voices. The inner voices are those messages we say to ourselves when we think that we don't meet expectations. They begin to surface. Why try? I can't do it. These words and the beliefs behind them leave us vulnerable to crippling doubt, anxiety, indecision, and lack of action. In short, they leave us vulnerable to fear and stress.. The manifestations of stress are multiple including cognitive, physical, emotional, and behavioral. Stress has many negative effects on us. For more information about stress, please see our book (I Can’t Take It Anymore: How to Manage Stress so It Doesn’t Manage You; Paul G. Longobardi, Ph.D., and Janice B. Longobardi, R.N., B.S.N., P.H.N.), available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542458056. For more information about the book and authors, please visit our website at www.manageyourhealthandstress.com. For now, consider that your inner game needs to be just as strong as your outer game to reach the next level of success in your business and life. When you hold yourself back it is time to look at your inner voices and beliefs, your mindset. Identify the limiting thoughts which are getting in the way. As I have said on many occasions mindset is the key element for success in meeting challenges in business and life. Use it to your advantage. Get really honest with yourself about whether avoidance, sabotage or perfectionism are happening. Figure out the underlying belief, the root cause, to break free from your self-imposed obstacle to success.
Usually one of four main fears stops many of us from saying yes to growing our business and lives. The inner critic, those limiting beliefs, and your fears contribute to performance anxiety, perfectionism and poor management of your focus and energy. These main fears include fear of failure, fear of making mistakes, fear of disapproval and fear of success. F.E.A.R. is often considered an acronym. It means False Evidence Appearing Real. It is not what needs to be done to manage your life and business. The fear comes from how you look at it. Others had already done what you are facing. Now it is your turn. Fear, worry and doubt will take you out of life if you allow it to do so. You will know if you are ready to take action and do things differently.
Here are five steps to quiet the inner voices and defeat your fear.
1. Figure out what is the underlying reason you are holding yourself back. You need to figure out what is happening. It may be old experiences, memories or messages we heard repeatedly which cause us to stay where are instead of taking a risk or trying something new.
2. See if you can come up with alternative ways of looking at things. List as many different points of view as you can think of. Choose the one you like best. Try it on and see how it feels.
3. Focus on the reason why you want to reach your goal. Connect with your purpose. A lack of purpose and meaning in life is one of the primary reasons for the malaise so many people suffer. Take some time to think about yours, even in a pandemic with all its challenges.
4. Visualization. It is a powerful tool. Imagine yourself taking action. As you are doing this your brain is making changes preparing you for taking action. Many successful people take the time to see themselves doing that which they fear and visualization is helpful in overcoming fear and getting things done.
5. Finally, focus on the small steps right in front of you. The small actions you take today will take you to your goal. As you take action, you overcome the doubts and fears holding you back.
Identify, challenge, and replace the limiting beliefs you have and interrupt the little voices in your head holding you back. Remember, change your thoughts, change your results..
Good luck on your journey.
Dr. Paul Longobardi
For information on these and related topics, please visit my website at www.successandmindset.com