Don't Waste Your Time Listening to Your Fear Fear is often a liar, but not always. Learn when to ignore it.
By Steve Eakin •
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Whenever something changes, most people feel a sudden sense of fear. True, guttural fear.
I'm sure there's some logical reason for it. Maybe it's wired deep into our lizard brain, where if something changes, we're no longer safe. And if our primordial self doesn't feel safe and comfortable, we assume we're about to die. Thus do we run as fast as we can to safety, or stand and fight our possible demons.
Maybe that's why whenever something big changes people run as fast as they can to get back into their comfort zone.
Unexpected changes at work.
Like an unexpected change at work. Maybe you were part of a re-org and got a new boss. Perhaps your company is forced to pivot into a new area. Or, maybe you even got fired.
Related: How Getting Fired Could Be the First Step Toward a Better You
All of those scenarios leave you wide open for opportunity. You can turn a re-org, a pivot, a new boss and even getting fired into a positive experience. It's not always easy, and it's never comfortable, but it's absolutely possible.
The problem is that change can sometimes feel like failure.
Failure sucks.
The funny thing about failure is that it only happens if you try. But, if you never try, you'll never fail. You'll also never truly succeed. You'll just float through life.
And if you never fail, you'll never grow. Seriously.
Related: The 3 Moments That Give Hardship Meaning
I was fired and turned it into something great. Building and growing startups has always been my passion, and now I'm lucky enough to do it full time.
None of that would have been possible if I didn't try and fail. But, when you fail, and you definitely will fail if you ever try at something, take a good look at your failure.
Take a good, hard look at your future.
What are you afraid to do? Get a new job? Go talk to that coworker you like? Take a year off to travel? Build that app you've been brainstorming about? Settle down and have a kid or two?
You've taken a first step and acknowledged the thing you want, but are afraid to do. The next step is to acknowledge that fear. Don't ignore it, just acknowledge it and do it anyway.
Related: Breaking Free of Fear
What's the worst thing that can happen? Maybe you'll fail. Maybe you'll look stupid for a little bit. Maybe you'll lose a few bucks in your new venture. Maybe you'll get rejected. Maybe you'll make your life more difficult for a little bit. There can still be greatness at the end of all that.
Maybe, if you push hard enough, you'll succeed. Maybe you'll get exactly what you've always wanted. Maybe you'll actually enjoy your life, as opposed to hustling through it day in and day out. Which is a worse fate: Some discomfort, or a life of stagnation?
