How to be fearless: tips from Lorna Jane Clarkson
Lorna Jane Clarkson reveals how she maintains a healthy, positive outlook, no matter how busy she gets running a global business.
I’m constantly telling myself to be fearless but when I stop and really think about it, no matter how many times I practise my “Wonder Woman” pose – I still have serious doubts being fearless is even possible. Maybe what is possible is using fear to channel my energy in a more positive way to overcome it. Maybe what I actually need is a little bit of conquered fear in order to be fearless. And, maybe, learning how to harness my fear is the most fearless I can expect to become.
Too often we allow fear, worry and self-doubt to dominate and define our lives.
We let it steal our opportunities, our confidence, our happiness and our precious dreams. We allow our fears to take hold of us, stop us in our tracks and paralyse us.
But what would you do if you didn’t have fear? Would you climb a mountain or launch your own website? No matter how big or small, it’s important to recognise that the fear that’s stopping you is just a feeling – a story that you have created in your head about what could possibly happen – but that made-up story is not real!
Finding courage and taking risks isn’t easy
(for anyone) but it’s exactly what needs to happen in order to move forward and do great things with your life.
So how can we become more confident? Push doubt to the side and become a little more fearless?
1 Recognise that fear is just a feeling ...
Unless what we fear is literally life-threatening, then fear is just a story that we have created in our minds about what might happen. And even though we need to listen to our fears, we should also be reminded that most of our fears are wasted worries that never actually take place.
2 Ask yourself: what are you really worried about …
When I’m faced with something I fear, I have learnt to ask myself “What am I truly worried about, deep down?” If I can, I work out what’s holding me back and what the worst possible outcome could be. It allows me to put everything in perspective and make the best possible decision.
3 Plan for failure if it should happen ...
Write down the worst possible outcome of facing your fear and then come up with an action plan to overcome it just in case. Think of the worst-case scenario but don’t let it rule your decision to be fearless.
4 Change your thinking …
Create an irresistible, compelling and pleasurable reason to face your fears. If you don’t, then you’ll come up with an excuse not to face them every single time.
5 Adopt a daring mindset ...
Don’t give time, attention or energy to fear – take a deep breath and go for it. More often than not you will be surprised to find that it wasn’t that bad after all.
Facing your fears is about letting courage and confidence sit in the driver’s seat.
Like everything else, the more you do it, the easier it becomes and the faster you will be able to drive. Yes, it will be scary every single time and you won’t always be sure that you are doing the right thing, but one thing that I know from personal experience is that nobody ever overcame fear without facing it.