6 Fears That Will Keep You Paralyzed

Overcoming Emotional Roadblocks of Fear

Have you ever wondered why some people achieve certain successes, while others find themselves stuck in a never-ending cycle of instability and uncertainty? We often focus on practical personal finance and management tips and strategies when discussing success, whether that is financial, career, or even relationships. But, what about the emotional roadblocks that stand in our way? Our mental health is often the main factor that affects our overall well-being, including our finances. It is important to recognize where we stand emotionally when it comes to money so that we can understand how to set ourselves up for success.

Understanding Mental Blocks

One of the most common mental blocks related to finances is fear. Fear can manifest itself in many forms, such as worrying about not having enough money or not being able to afford certain things. This kind of fear can paralyze us and prevent us from taking action towards achieving financial success. Another common mental block is guilt or shame around spending or investing money. Specifically, feeling ashamed about our current financial situation or past money mistakes. Shame has a way of keeping us stuck in unhealthy patterns that don’t serve us well. To break free from this pattern, we need to challenge ourselves by asking questions like “What have I learned from this experience?” or “What do I need to do differently next time?”. Doing so allows us to move forward with more insight and confidence. Otherwise, that fear will linger which will keep you exactly where you are. Seeing that you are reading this, chances are you don’t want to stay precisely where you are at.

Identifying Patterns

It is also important to identify patterns of thinking that may be preventing us from achieving financial stability. Do you find yourself fixating on negative thoughts? Are you always comparing yourself to others who seem more financially successful than you are? These types of thoughts can lead to feelings of inadequacy or even depression, which in turn can hinder our ability to make sound financial decisions. It’s important to recognize these patterns and work on reframing them in order to move forward with confidence towards achieving financial goals. Instead, what are things you are thankful for? This is not to take away from your struggles or goals yet achieved, but to remind yourself of the abundance that you already have in your life, even if they are small things.

Are you healthy? Be thankful for that! Health is wealth at the end of the day. As long as you are healthy, then the opportunities are endless. Do you know where your next meal is coming from and where you can get food from? Be joyful that you do not need to spend an abundance of energy in figuring out how you are going to eat your next meal. Do you have a job with consistent income? That is the stepping stone to your next career adventure, business opportunity or goal! There are so many areas of our lives that are already healthily established where we do not need to worry about them. Focus on the positive things in your life and use them as steps on a ladder instead of not being thankful that you are not already 10 rungs up. You will get there a lot faster if you do not focus on the negative aspects and the fears that keep us back from becoming who we were meant to be.

The Six Fears

Fear is POWERFUL. Never underestimate the power of fear and the control it has in our lives. Fear can happen from a long list of reasons. Knowing what they are is the first step in identifying them in your life so that you know how to deal with the situation. If you have ever had a panic attack in your life, then you know how out-of-control you felt the first time you experienced that. You did not know what was triggering it, when it would end, what to do to help your mind get out of it. But, once you identified it, you were then able to reduce the impact of future panic attacks or prevent them altogether. Fear works similarly, so here are 6 key fears that impact our daily journey in life.

1. Fear of Failure: The fear of failing or not achieving our desired goals can be paralyzing and lead to a lack of action. Once we come to the realization that failure is part of life and something to be embraced instead of avoided, that is when we will begin to grow in the areas of our lives that we so desperately want to.
2. Fear of Rejection: Feeling rejected or judged by others in pursuit of our dreams can cause us to become overwhelmed, causing us to freeze up and second guess our decisions. Even if everyone does not agree with your pursuits because they themselves have never done it, does not mean it is a bad or wrong decision. Any Steve Rogers (Captain America) fans here? Be like Captain America in the Civil War movie when he said, “Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye, and say, ‘No, you move’”. Don’t fear the rejection, embrace it.
3. Fear of the Unknown: What lies ahead is unknown, and this uncertainty can cause us to become anxious and overthink our choices. Many of the most notable accomplishments were achieved by men and women embarking towards an unknown. Had they not embraced the unknown, there wouldn’t be a story about them or you would not be relishing in their accomplishments.
4. Fear of Not Being Good Enough: When we don’t feel like we have the skills or knowledge necessary to reach our goals, it can be easy for self-doubt to set in and prevent us from taking risks and growing. You are good enough just as you are. Just begin.
5. Fear of Change: Change is often uncomfortable and challenging, so it is natural for us to be scared when faced with new opportunities that could potentially bring about change in our lives. That change is what brings about some of the above fears. Fear of failure, rejection, the unknown. The other truth is that if you do not change to create a new environment for your life, your environment will always be the same.
6. Fear of Losing Control: The idea that something out of our control could hinder or ruin our progress towards success can make us hesitant to take action towards making progress in any area of life.

At times, it is important to remind yourself that you are the one in control and no one else can do the work for you. We all have fears and they definitely are not always easy to overcome. Many times it feels like a daily challenge. These 6 key fears can derail our progress towards reaching our goals if we don’t identify them and use techniques to help us push through them. Taking responsibility of our lives will bring about growth, no matter how volatile is might feel. Contrary to that, feeling powerless over your destiny will cause stagnation in so many areas of our lives. Always remember that fear does not define us, but how we respond to it — that is what will define our journey and our future.

So, take a moment now and listen to your inner voice — what is it telling you? Identify the fear you have been harboring, write it down if you have to and then look for ways to work through it. Taking on your fears can bring about growth in all areas of life and lead you towards a place of greater success than you could have ever imagined. Remember, the journey starts with a single step. So take that first step and start working through your fear. You will be glad you did.