Acknowledge the fear and invite it along for the ride
There is a truth I have yet to share in my series of posts about stopping the fear of making the wrong choice.
A lot of times, especially with the biggest decisions, we can’t completely stop the fear of making the wrong choice.
Making decisions often pushes us beyond what we already know, past what is comfortable. This newness, and all that is unknown often makes us afraid. We get so worried about all the what ifs, that we don’t actually make any decisions and just keep going with what other people tell us, or with the status quo. That way we can push away the fear and pretend it isn’t there.
Yet, this allows the fear to persist. If you don’t take time to examine and understand that fear, it won’t change. It will stay, waiting to crop back up the next time you need to make a big change in your life.
What if you, instead, invited the fear along for the ride?
When you feel that fear, that indecisiveness, I challenge you to acknowledge it and recognize that it has a part in your journey.
Start by Acknowledging that the fear is there. By stating that you have a fear, either outloud to yourself or a friend, or written down on a piece of paper, you start to understand it and rightsize it’s influence on your decision making.
Know that the fear has information for you, so explore why it is there. Consider why you are afraid to make the choice. Ask what it is protecting you from? Fears can be wise, so understanding them can help us make better decisions.
Invite the fear to “come along for the ride”, but don’t put it in control. You are in the driver’s seat of your choices. Use the fear as a tool and a source of information, not as your only factor in making decisions.
If you are making big decisions in your life you are going to feel afraid at times. Knowing this and learning what you can from your fear are great ways to make better choices. If you want support as you explore this for yourself, please sign up for an exploratory call with me to see if coaching is a good fit for you.
For more information on overcoming fears and taking courageous steps, I highly recommend Kate Swoboda’s work at https://www.yourcourageouslife.com/.