The Subtle Signs of Fear In Business

Many times, we are acutely aware that fear holds us back. We can articulate exactly what we’re afraid of, and why. For example, some people suffer from a fear of failure, or a fear of public speaking.

For some of us, fear holds us back in very subtle ways. Many times, when we hold off doing something in our business, we don't get an internal message that says "I'm Fear and I'm here to hold you back!"

Here are 4 of the subtle signs that fear may be holding you back:

Procrastination. You may put off a task because you fear failure – that it won’t work out anyway so why bother. Some people procrastinate because of uncertainty – they don’t know what to expect, and are afraid they’ll sabotage their efforts somehow.

Change in eating patterns. When fear is present, it can cause you to eat more, and cover the fearful feelings. It can also cause you to eat less by worrying and losing your appetite.

Making excuses. It’s easier to blame someone or something else when things go wrong. It’s hard to accept accountability for the parts of your life that aren’t going well. And when you are in fear, you don’t want others to think badly of you, so it’s easy to point the finger elsewhere.

Withdraw. Sometimes when we are in fear mode, we don’t want to be in anyone else’s company. We cover ourselves up with self-defeating thoughts like “I’m not good enough,” “no one likes me,” “I might say the wrong things,” “I’m doing things differently, I must be wrong.”

If you recognize areas in your business where you might be exhibiting some of these signs, ask yourself if fear might be at the heart of the situation.

The best defense against fear is knowledge and action.

If you’re not sure what to do to complete a task, or you need more information, go find it. Ask friends and colleagues for help, do some research online or at the library. Being armed with knowledge is a sure-fire way to get rid of your fear.

Taking one small step toward your goal will help you feel empowered and in control. Develop a plan and begin working on it as soon as you can. Even if you can’t take large steps, taking the small steps will be so gratifying and they will prove that you don’t have anything to be afraid of.

When you start to notice that you might be exhibiting one of the subtle signs of fear, take some time to determine why fear is creeping up, what knowledge would help, and what small steps will help you move forward. Make a plan and go for it!

Jenn Givler is the Catalyst for Thriving Businesses. She shows entrepreneurs how to break out of their mind-set traps, including fear, indecisiveness, and self-doubt. Through group coaching, intuitive readings, and e-books, Jenn motivates, inspires and empowers entrepreneurs to listen to their inner voice, stand in their power and create a thriving business. Check out her web site for more information on her e-zine and how you can receive a copy of her free report: Break Your Business Out Of Your Mind-Set Traps. www.jgivlercoaching.com

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