Tag Archives: fear

The Other Side of Fear

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The things we fear in business and life are usually illusory.

“Fear, uncertainty and discomfort are your compasses toward growth.” – Celestine Chua (Image: source unknown.)

The fear is real, regardless. Accept that your brain and body are responding this way. (Radical self-compassion.) Just don’t give into it without questioning it.

You really should be afraid of the lion. You needn’t be afraid of putting your work out into the world. Take a reflective pause to work out which kind of fear this is.

If there is a genuine reason to fear, think: How might you cage that lion?

(How might you speak more skillfully, or test your business idea with low stakes?)

The safest option is usually this: Push against the fear.

Or even smash through it. See what’s on the other side.

When fear of starting is a paper-thin wall

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In the context of discussing procrastination and the pain of starting, a commenter writes:

Fear is a wall 1000 miles wide and a mile high, but only tissue paper thin. A la Harry Potter running through the brick wall to the train station. – (source)

brick wall blocking sight

Adapted from Brick Wall Texture.

This is a helpful frame. Anything that helps me get started for a matter of minutes, even seconds, or that makes starting just a little more pleasant, gives me a chance of continuing and possibly finding flow.

(I’ll be posting more on this topic, including micro-pomodoros, preparing the workspace and first physical actions, and you’ll find these with the getting started tag.)