We all have ideas and things we want to do, but for some reason we don’t do them. Why? The problem with ideas is that they are as only as good as the actions that follow them. If you want to travel the world but you never do, then you’re idea is left unrealized. If you want to start a company but never do, then again, your idea is left unrealized. I think a lot of what stops us from doing the things we want to do is fear. What if my company fails and I go broke? Will I have fun if I go by myself on a trip around the world, what if I get lonely, what will I do?
Fear is important because it keeps our lives in check, fear makes us think and it makes us look at the options and possibilities that we are presented with. Yes it’s important to overcome your fears but usually new ones will emerge. A fear can save your life or keep you from realizing a dream. The trick to dealing with fear is not to get rid of it but to control it. Remember, fear is not a physical thing, it’s a construct of the human mind and thus it is your mind that is capable of controling it.
It’s funny how powerful fear is. Think about what fear can do:
- Fear can keep you from trying a new food
- Fear can keep you from exploring the world
- Fear can keep you from meeting the love of your life
- Fear can keep you from getting your dream job
- Fear can keep you from trying a new sport
Perhaps one of the most dynamic and diverse things that humans feel is fear. Fear touches everyone and keep people from achieving goals or tasks that range from the mundane to the extraordinary. Some people fear public speaking more than death, others fear going in the ocean for fear of getting attacked by a shark.
I’ve been (and am) scared of several things in life, but one of the ways that I feel I have been able to overcome or control my fears is to ask myself “what’s the worst that could happen?” Tim Ferris recently did a presentation in which he shares his view on fear and he asks himself the same question.
Really take a moment and examine your fears. Think of the little and big things that you are afraid of and ask yourself what’s the worst that could happen? I think you will find that in most situations if things go downhill you will really not be that much worse off.
What are you afraid of? How do you deal with fear?
Thanks for reading!
Jacob,
Very interesting post. I find myself often finding myself afraid of things that are unfamiliar. Also I fear the way things effect my future. I once replied to your tweet about traveling around the world and recording your experiences on social media and how I have always wanted to do that. There are a lot of fears that would hold me back from doing that like leaving friends and family, and how it will effect getting a job after college. Hopefully I'll be able to find the courage to overcome those fears and do some of the things that I've always wanted to do in my life.
Dave
Very nice post. I wrote a post about a month back on “Why Ideas are Worthless,” which you can find here: http://scottdig.com/?p=33
I didn't really touch upon fear so much. I'm trying to think, though, about what I fear. Right now, I really don't fear anything other than my loved ones experiencing a tragedy.
Great post, and on a topic that is important to me. I named my company Intrepid in part because I want my clients to overcome their fears of failure, and achieve the confidence to make bold and intrepid marketing moves for their company. I wrote a post just the other day on this topic: http://intrepid-llc.com/2009/01/02/3-things-you… Thanks for what you do, and for addressing this issue!
Great post! Found you via Twitter and have been enjoying your posts there and on your blog.
Fear is a powerful emotion, but I think you hit the nail on the head. What's the worst that can happen? It's about risk assesment. Be it shark infested waters or a new business deal – what's the worst case scenario and can I survive itf that scenario happens?
When my husband took over our family biz it was established but small. We risked leaving good paying jobs and possibly our relationship if things didn't work out or we couldn't work together. But we made a plan and contingencies (all very loose btw) and went for it. We've never looked back.
Fear has a place – it is sometimes the yellow light we all need to pay attention to. At the same time it can be the stoplight or the excuse to greater things. Again, it all comes down to the simple question “what's the worst that can happen?”
Jacob,
I reckon you can make a difference between emotional and non-emotional risks.
The first you're right… what's the worst that could happen? You can plan lots of scenario's how asking a girl out could turn out or how that trip abroad will go, but the risk assesment will be of a different kind than other non-emotional risks. If you invest in a company you can calculate how much money you'll lose when it fails. When you try something new to eat, you know what happens when you don't like it,…
But in the end… people don't like to fail… emotional or non-emotional… and as a result they don't even like to think about it. So overanalysing what can go wrong will have a negative impact. Selffulling prophecy. People fail, thinking they knew the risks and won't take anymore in the future…
grtz
Tom
For years I was afraid of failure and then, ironically, I had the same realization of “what’s the worst that could happen?” while giving some advice to a friend who also had the same problem. Now when confronted with something I look at it and if the worst thing that could happen is I end up in the same place I am now I jump right in and give it a go. Great post, thanks for sharing.
This was a great post and I have enjoyed reading your blog on other subjects as well. I wrote a post awhile back on Stress Management – Anxiety and Worry? http://joycejacobsen.com/wp-admin/post.php?acti… I touched on — The “fear” of what will happen if you face the problem often leads to “putting off the inevitable”. Even tho facing things head on can sometimes seem too difficult, it is definitely the healthiest way to handle the situation that would otherwise create anxiety, worry or fear.
Thanks for sharing.
Joyce Jacobsen
This was a great post and I have enjoyed reading your blog on other subjects as well. I wrote a post awhile back on Stress Management – Anxiety and Worry? http://joycejacobsen.com/wp-admin/post.php?acti… I touched on — The “fear” of what will happen if you face the problem often leads to “putting off the inevitable”. Even tho facing things head on can sometimes seem too difficult, it is definitely the healthiest way to handle the situation that would otherwise create anxiety, worry or fear.
Thanks for sharing.
Joyce Jacobsen