Have you ever started to do something and just stopped? Have you talked yourself out of something good? This may be fear.

When people talk about fear, many times they refer to things like: fear of heights, fear of the monster hiding in the closet, or fear of public speaking. Those fears are normal but there are other types of fear. These fears can be bigger and more stifling to you, and go unrecognized. Examples are fear of success, fear of change, fear to let go, and fear of freedom. These types of fears can block you from a more fulfilling life.

So think for a second, what fear do you have that is hindering you?

Once you have identified you fear, the best thing to do is to confront your fear head on. This doesn’t mean to immediately skydive, it means think about the fear you have and the situation surrounding it. Tim Ferris in the book “The Four Hour Work Week” provided a recipe to deal with the fear. He asks questions like:

1. What is the worst that can happen?
2. What is the likelihood of it actually happening?
3. If it happens, how long would it take for you to recover?

We are not born into this world with fear. Instead fear develops over time. Just as we have learned to be afraid, we can unlearn. Again, think about that great thing you want to do or achieve, put fear in its place, and go for it!