Change is inevitable in life. Whether it is something as trivial as your favourite yoga teacher leaving town or something far more earth-shattering like the breakdown of a relationship or the loss of someone you love, changes will happen whether we like them or not.
But when it comes to taking the reins and choosing to make changes in our lives, our defenses pop up like soldiers in a trench. We are creatures of habit and instinctively we avoid making changes in order to keep ourselves safe in the environment in which we are accustomed, and therefore we lessen the risk of failure and disappointment.
But the cold, hard truth is that in order to move forward and to better ourselves, change is necessary. No matter whether we succeed or fail, to take a risk is to grow as a human being and in the process we can learn many important life lessons. But in order to make necessary changes, we must be able to conquer our fear of failure, and with that in mind here are some tips to help you take that leap onto bigger and better things…
Trust Yourself and Your Instincts
If something doesn’t feel right then the likelihood is that it probably isn’t. You are your own best life coach if you can learn to listen to your gut. Consider your intuition as a mental GPS that knows where you need to go and how best to get there, and trust that you can lead yourself to a better tomorrow.
Loss vs. Gain
Rather than thinking about what you could lose through a big change, focus on what you can gain. Write down a list and when you feel your fear kicking in, repeat it to yourself and ignore negative thoughts about what could go wrong. Do this enough and your thought-training will become easier and eventually automatic, making you a natural at taking a chance.
It’s Okay to Throw it All Away
Stop convincing yourself that you have too much to lose, that you couldn’t possibly just throw it all away. If something isn’t working for you, be it a relationship or a job, then all you have to lose is a lifetime of unhappiness.
Self-Affirmation
As trite as it may sound, the process of repeating something to yourself can have a powerful effect. When your self-doubt kicks in, stand in front a mirror, look into your eyes and repeat your chosen affirmation with gusto. It can be something as simple as “you are capable,” or “you are strong,” or “you are beautiful.” Say it, believe it and if you don’t then repeat it until you do. Work on this inner conversation every day to battle your negative thoughts and inner critic because those are the only things that are holding you back.
And Finally…
Remember that you are not a product of your circumstance; you are a product of your decisions. The only walls keeping you trapped are the ones you build yourself. Once you find the strength to break the first brick, you will experience a euphoric feeling of freedom that will encourage you to keep moving forward. The first step is the hardest – conquer that and the world can be yours!
What are some of your tips and tricks on how you get over your fear? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.
