Will You Let Fear Hold You Back?

Will You Let Fear Hold you Back?

You sit at your computer, the blank page staring back at you with the cursor blinking. Taunting you. You’ve been staring at the screen for what seems like hours, but nothing has happened. Before you sat down, you had more ideas than you could manage to get down on paper. Now, there’s nothing. No thoughts. Just hopes and dreams slowly waving at you as they disappear into the ether.

What you thought was going to be a productive day has turned into a disappointment. I know this feeling well. As I sit here, writing this post that should have been done weeks, possibly months ago, I find myself behind. I’m trying to catch up to what should already have been done by now.

When creating is hard, when what used to come easily is now a chore, when what needs to be done just isn’t being completed, it’s time to find out what’s holding you back. What is it that’s keeping you from creating, from being productive? And how do you get around it?

There are so many reasons why you may be struggling, but today, I want to talk about the fears that could be holding you back.

Fear of Failure

This is a big one and a bit of an obvious one. Most people let the fear of failure keep them from doing what they are meant to do. Fear of failure tells you that, even if you try you will fail. You’re not good enough, smart enough, strong enough to create, so you might as well not even try.

Perhaps you’ve already tried and failed, and now, the idea of trying again is too much to bear. You know your weaknesses and short comings. You’ve already encountered them, and with great detail, been soundly beaten by them. So, why, in the name of all that is good, would you bother to try again?

Failure can be an overwhelming fear to overcome. Stepping into the storm, whether for the first time or the hundredth time, never gets easy. Every time I published a new book, I experienced the fear of failure. What if no one likes it? Will it measure up to the expectations of the one before it? What if I did something wrong and it doesn’t work?

But what if it does work? We’ve all seen the meme of the guy with the pick axe giving up before he reaches the diamonds (or I think I’ve seen some that were water), and the guy who keeps going and gets the diamonds (or water, as it were). What if you give up right before you’re about to reach your success?

Fear of Ridicule

I once knew someone who was always afraid that people were watching them. Anytime we went out, they were afraid to do anything other than sit quietly for fear that others were judging them. If we were in a coffee shop and they wanted to sit in the comfy chairs instead of at the table, they were too afraid to move for fear others were silently judging them.

Have you ever been too afraid to make a move because of the fear that you will be judged? I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve denied myself something for fear of judgment, only to be disappointed with myself later. Something as simple as wanting to try a dessert at a party that was clearly there for us to eat.

Let me ease your worries a bit. No one is watching you. No one is judging you. They are far too busy with their own fears and issues to be watching you to see what you’re going to do next. Don’t deny yourself dessert at a party because you think someone is watching you. They’re all eating their dessert.

Fear of Rejection

This is a fear that I struggle with quite a bit myself. As I’ve gotten older, it has waned a bit. There are certain areas where it is harder to get around than others. But the fear of rejection can hold us back and keep us from creating.

Whatever you’re building isn’t going to be for everyone, and that’s okay. There will be people who don’t resonate with your vision and your message. What matters is that you get your message out and it reaches the people it was meant to reach.

Did you know that the fear of rejection is rooted in pride? When we focus so deeply on ourselves is when the fear of rejection takes root. And when we fear not being liked by others to the point of not creating or not approaching people for fear of being turned away, fear has won.

Are you going to let fear win? Are you going to let fear hold you back and keep you from accomplishing all that you were meant to do? Or will you rise above and conquer fear so you can create with confidence? There is no doubt that we live in a world where fear reigns, but we don’t have to let it conquer us. We can live without fear and build a world where fear has no hold. So, what fear will you conquer today? And what will you create?