Overcoming Fear and Taking a Risk

It's easy to stay put in your comfort zone and never take any considerable risks. After all, if you don't rock the boat, you can't fall into the sea. But without risk, there are few rewards.

Overcome Your Fears
You already know that taking risks can be scary. To build up the courage, you need to master your fears. However, if you've spent the better part of your life with fear, it could be deeply ingrained in your subconscious. Acknowledging that you're afraid to step outside your comfort zone is the first step. Here are a few tips on overcoming fear of change:

1. Recognize Your Fears. Recognize your fears for what they really are. You'll soon discover how your fears are limiting you by your emotional reactions to them. Accept that the fear is real, but challenge yourself to approach the situation objectively and from a distance in order to lower your emotional response.

2. Define Your Fears. Many times we're afraid of something because it remains in the unknown. We might label something as risky because we don't yet know or understand what's going on.

3. Jump Anyway. Don't let fear keep you from doing what you want to do. Acknowledge it, experience it, and then do it anyway.

Taking Risks
Once you deal with your fears, it's time to take some risks. Whether you realize it or not, you take risks everyday. Most risks are quite minor, but risk accompanies nearly every decision you make.

Here are some tips to help you get into a risk taking mindset:

• If the word "risk" sounds negative to you, instead think of it as more of an "adventure," "journey" or "challenge."
• Consider the reasons why you're hesitant to take a risk. What's the worst that can happen?
• Visualize a positive outcome. What does it look like? How does it feel?
• Write out a plan. When you have a plan in place, taking a risk is a whole lot less threatening.
• When you've taken the leap, evaluate your experience so you can improve in the future.
• Self-confidence is the most important ingredient to success.

Putting it all Together
Fear can be an uncomfortable feeling. If you're feeling tentative about the whole thing, get your feet wet with small steps. You can't expect yourself to change drastically overnight, but at the same time you have to believe in yourself and believe that change is possible.

Most of the good things in life require some kind of risk. Sometimes we fail, but there is always a lesson to be learned. Overcoming fears and taking risks go hand in hand and lead to personal growth. Start small and dream big.