Five questions to ask yourself when you are afraid

What if the thing that you are scared to do is the thing that could change your life? Have you stopped to wonder what would happen if you followed the pull of your heart and soul? What if you start doing, being, and becoming all that you were meant to be? How would your life be different? How would that make you feel?

So often the fear of the unknown stops us from doing the things we really want to do. We are afraid of what could happen if things didn’t work out. We are afraid of consequences, of discomfort, of being seen. A big fear for so many of us is being open about our dreams because then other people would also know when and if it doesn’t work out. Following your heart can be hard because you have transparent to what it is your heart desires. That level of transparency can bring up so much fear simply because of the question of “What if?’’ What if things don’t work out. It’s scary to fail in private, and it’s even scarier to fail in public.

Fear protects. It keeps us safe. It stops us from taking unnecessary risks and putting our lives in danger. Fear is not inherently a bad thing. It’s good in certain circumstances. It helps regulate life. Fear becomes a negative force when we start using it as an excuse to not grow. Growth in life, relationships, and work requires us to get uncomfortable sometimes. There are moments and phases where things will be uncertain and scary. The way to grow through all of this is to move through the fear instead of trying to move around it. Moving around would mean avoiding it. Moving through it would mean feeling and dealing with it.

If you have a dream of what you would like your life to look like and if you getting frustrated as to why that is not your reality and at the same time you are too afraid to do anything about it… this is when you need to pause. The only way your dreams can become your reality is if you are willing to face your fears. The big thing that is keeping you stuck is the fact you aren’t willing to get uncomfortable. There are ways to deal with discomfort in a healthy way. It’s time you start doing that. Start facing your fears. Fears will always be a part of life. Whether they are negative or positive part is up to how you deal with them.

Here are 5 questions that can help you move through fears…

1. What is the worst possible outcome of me facing this fear?

2. How is my fear holding me captive?

3. How would my life be different if I did the thing I was afraid to do?

4. Do I see my life as a courageous person and do my actions reflect that vision?

5. What do I need to feel safe to move through my fears?

6. Anytime you are unhappy or frustrated coming back to your body, heart, and soul. In stillness and movement see which direction you are being pulled in. Ask yourself the tough questions. Be open to answers. Then, be willing to stay curious and committed.

Vanessa Seymour is a Embodiment and Mindset Coach who works with women entrepreneurs on making their dreams their reality through personal development and business growth. Contact details: vanessaseymour.com, [email protected]; Instagram: @vanessa.seymour