FEARLESSNESS

Each of us is all too familiar with fear. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of authority, fear of what others might think, fear of being wrong, fear of setbacks never ending, fear of being ourselves, plus the fears that result from burdensome neuroses, are all examples of irrational, debilitating thoughts that waste our time and impede our progress. Fear’s only value is to quickly alert us to a potentially grave situation. However, fear must be just as quickly dismissed so that we can take control of the situation and decide on the best course of action.We may not know the original source of our particular fears, but we do know how they can manifest themselves. They can make us physically sick, turn us into an emotional wreck and cause mental paralysis. None of this adds value. It is distracting, counter-productive and a total waste of time. Learning to rid our lives of fear (becoming fearless) is one of life’s greatest individual achievements.

Fearlessness does not imply taking unnecessary risk and exercising poor judgment. It is actually quite the opposite. Being fearless allows us to think clearly and act calmly so that we are able to take calculated risks based on good judgment. This behavior calls for a large dose of self-confidence, enough in fact, to inspire confidence in others-a leadership requirement.

Standing up for ourselves, not being afraid to be different and a willingness to take measured risks are all examples of fearlessness. The person who has the confidence to act in this manner has learned to recognize and dispatch the feelings of fear that plague so many. Since each of us is unique the amount of time and effort it takes to overcome our fears will vary. However, in every case fear is simply a feeling-nothing more. In other words, it’s nothing to be scared of. As with any feeling it can be dismissed if it is inappropriate. The challenge is for each of us to recognize the feeling of fear for what it is and then take appropriate action. This can be difficult as fear can be imbedded so deeply within us that we may not even be aware of it-we just know something isn’t right. Asking for help from others may be a necessary part of the process toward overcoming our fears.

A leader must not only address their own fears but also help others overcome theirs when it is affecting their work. Sometimes the fear is not recognized or acknowledged. Or they may be aware of it but are either unwilling or unable to resolve it. Through the leader’s knowledge, experience and empathy they can help their co-workers better understand the encumbrances fear places on them and how to minimize its impact. Together they can decide on how best to deal with it and who to involve in the solution. Who wouldn’t want to work for a leader who responds in this fashion?

Fear misdirects our energy and our focus. Our efforts are misapplied. Mistakes result, along with sub-par performance and unproductive behaviors like irritability, anger, frustration and intolerance. This renders us ineffective and does everyone around us a terrible disservice. In short, fears that are obstacles to our growth and success have no place in our life, and we must address them since we are ultimately responsible for overcoming our own fears.

Fear is an unproductive, life-distracting mindset that diminishes our ability to achieve. Fearlessness is a state of mind that welcomes challenges and unlocks our true potential. The choice is ours.