How I Overcome My Fear:
By: Erin Adamson
Tags: Self Motivation, Fear, Self Improvement, Life Lessons, Getting Started

How I Overcome My Fear:

3 Tips for Self-Motivation

Photo by mwangi gatheca on Unsplash

I’m a planner by nature, an avid researcher. This focus on preparation allows me to trick myself out of any real action. As it happens, there’s a big difference from writing to-do lists, to actually accomplishing goals. I want to step out into that brave new space and finally become a doer, a woman of action.

What’s holding me back?

Fear. Unadulterated fear. Fear of failure. Fear of success. Fear of notoriety. Fear of invisibility. Fear of rejection. And if I’m honest, fear of acceptance too.

These fears are paralyzing. They keep me stuck in inaction. Because if I know anything, I know that we don’t become masters of something new without failure. I can never be great without first being terrible. It’s a fact of life. One that keeps me on the endless loop of what-ifs instead of on a path of moving forward.

The sad part is I can see the vision of greatness so clearly. I know the dream that’s in my heart, buried down deep under societal expectations, below that inevitable laughter and ridicule by those that seek to restrain me, possibly out of their own fear.

So, what can be done?

I try to remember that time will pass anyway. It matters not whether I am active or inactive, courageous or fearful. Time continues to pass. I take a deep breath. Then, I make a conscious decision to live my life. I access my secret arsenal where my dreams are buried, and I unearth these three motivation tips.

1. ‘Anything worth doing is worth doing badly”

— G.K. Chesterton

Exercising frequently, eating healthy, and sleeping adequately are so vital to one’s life that there’s countless advice out there on how much of each we should be doing. Often times, we get so bogged down on getting it ‘right’ that we forget there’s a huge benefit in just doing anything at all. So, I would love to be a writer and sage advice says that writers must write everyday. Therefore, my mind processes I will never be a writer because I can’t commit to writing everyday. If writing fuels me, it’s worth writing ‘badly’. Exercising ten minutes a day probably won’t get you to your ideal physique, but it definitely is better than nothing.

2. Aim for only 1% better

— Atomic Habits by James Clear

In the same vein as above; I don’t have to be great overnight. My only focus should be on how can I be 1% better than I was yesterday. 1% doesn’t seem as overwhelming as the endless stretch of space between my dreams and where I am now. Maybe I write one sentence a day. Maybe I write one sentence a week. A sentence is definitely an improvement upon a blank page. One per cent I think I can do.

3. Everyone’s journey has a dark period

Any person that you admire has had a period of darkness, a period of doubt. They have all wondered if their effort was worth it. Were they good enough? Talented enough? Did they really have what it takes to make it? Whenever I am really in my feelings and overwhelmed with self-doubt, I pick up an autobiography of someone successful. The story of highs and lows always seems like a perfect picture at the end. I have the power to write my successful ending. I tell myself this is only my middle.

Yet, I know my time has come

In fact, it’s overdue. It’s time for me to take the leap and know that my ‘failure’ is only temporary. It’s time for me to become who I was always truly meant to be. It’s scary. It’s paralyzing. But, it’s also destiny. Welcome to my embracing the writer inside of me. Welcome to my destiny.