As I write this article, we are in the strangest of times, and so many people are so fearful of so many things – going out in public, being in crowds, meeting anyone face to face and even fearful of dying. These are all things we should not be frightened of as they are all things which make us who we are and what the human race thrives on. We have to be so careful of our fears as they can totally consume us to the extent that we cannot think or act rationally – and we end up doing nothing except sitting and thinking negatively about anything and everything.
FEAR stops up doing so many things. We are always told that one of the biggest fears anyone has is speaking in public. I am sure that any of us who have overcome this fear still get butterflies every time we have to speak, but at least now those butterflies are in formation. In our business lives, FEAR will stop us moving forward – fear from speaking to a client who has a problem, fear of making a phone call, having an awkward conversation with someone, doing a 60 second pitch at a networking event, fear from failure and even fear from success. If we want to move forward we have to overcome those fears and in my mind and experience there is nothing like just doing it. Once you have done it – from that moment forward – it becomes easier. It will continue to be uncomfortable for a while, but it will get easier, so the sooner you face that fear, the better.
There is a chance we could all be permanently stuck in what I call “The bubble of mediocrity”. Our friends and families want us to succeed but they don’t want us to succeed more than them or they think they are protecting us from the “Unknown”. Most of the population are in this bubble of mediocrity and there is safety in numbers. It takes enormous strength to strive to move outside this bubble as for every person who tries to pull away, there are several people trying to hold you back. When you step outside the bubble, it could mean you leave people behind, people you have known for years. You need to build new relationships with people who think like you, and this does take great inner strength and belief that you are doing the right thing. The pull to drag you back into the bubble can be so powerful. We have to have such strong belief in ourselves and those that have told us “You can do it. Believe in yourself. We will help you”. We are entering the unknown and leaving behind what we have known for years.
Anyone who has stepped outside the bubble will tell you it’s not that scary. It is nothing to be feared. There are more people willing to help you succeed and overcome your fears than there were inside the bubble. People who will become strong lifetime friends. People who will help and support you. People who will take you under their wing and introduce you to other people who can add value to your life. It is also not as crowded as it is within the bubble.
Sometimes others believe in us long before we believe in ourselves. If you have the courage of your convictions, you have the confidence to do what you believe is right, even though other people may not agree or approve.
For help and support to help overcome those fears, drop me an email to richard@lionheartmanagement.co.uk
This article was first published on LinkedIn by Richard Knight on 07/01/2021