Fear is part of every person’s journey. Whether you’re starting a business, entering a relationship or making a major life decision, fear tags along. But the difference between those who struggle and those who succeed isn’t about eliminating fear — it’s about taking action in spite of it.
Before you can start to plan your success goals, there are many things that you need to understand before you can be sure that the goals you set are really the ones you want.
One of those things is to determine if there are any Limiting Beliefs that can stop you from actually achieving those goals.
I have a self-study Limiting Belief Program that you can go through to determine what your Limiting Beliefs are and how you can remove them.
You can read more and register for the program at Limiting Beliefs Program on my Confidence and Life Coaching website.
Start your journey on your path to success by identifying and removing your Limiting Beliefs so that you make the journey a lot easier.
You can download a free PDF containing five articles on Limiting Beliefs and how to overcome them and achieve things in your career and personal life.
The PDF can be downloaded here (and you don’t have to register or provide an email address) Limiting Beliefs Download
Download the file and go over the other material that you can find on the Confidence and Life Coaching website.
If you are ready to move even further into the process of Identifying and removing and replacing your Limiting Beliefs, you should consider my short Limiting Belief’s Coaching Program
Success is not a straight line. It’s messy, uncertain, and full of moments where your confidence is tested. But what sets high achievers apart is that they act, repeatedly, even when they’re afraid. This post outlines how to face fear directly, take meaningful action and build confidence by doing the hard things.
1. Decide That You Will Succeed
Success begins with a decision — a real one. Not “I’ll try this and see what happens,” but “I will succeed no matter what.” The Latin root of “decide” means “to cut off.” When you decide to succeed, you cut off all other possibilities — including failure, excuses and fear-based hesitation.
This kind of mental commitment makes fear irrelevant. Fear thrives on uncertainty. When there’s no room for negotiation, fear has nowhere to hide. Your decision becomes your anchor.
2. Face Risk, Don’t Avoid It
Most people back away when things feel risky. But successful people run toward risk because they understand this truth: everything you want is on the other side of fear.
Pick up the phone and make the uncomfortable call. Send the pitch. Raise your hand. Speak your truth. Risk isn’t something to be feared — it’s a sign you’re growing. And if something scares you, it probably matters.
You don’t need to be reckless. You need to be bold.
3. Prepare for What You Can
Fear often shows up in the form of worry — especially about things we suspect could go wrong. Instead of letting that turn into paralysis, use it as fuel. If you anticipate challenges, prepare for them.
Build your skillset. Create backup plans. Talk to people who’ve done it before. Do the mental rehearsal. The more prepared you are, the less room fear has to run the show.
Preparedness builds confidence, and confidence reduces fear.
4. Live in the Moment
Fear lives in the future — in the “what ifs” that haven’t even happened yet. When you live in the present, you take away fear’s power.
Stop reliving mistakes. Stop pre-living disasters. Be where your feet are. The present moment is manageable. Fear thrives in imagination, not reality.
Let go of resistance and focus on what you can do right now. Action is grounded in presence. Anxiety is rooted in the unknown.
5. Expect Good Outcomes
Most people brace for the worst. They picture everything going wrong before they even start. But that mindset guarantees hesitation.
Flip it.
Start expecting things to work out. Visualize success. Think through the best-case scenario. Sure, obstacles might appear — but you can deal with them. If you’re expecting the worst, you’ll freeze. If you’re expecting success, you’ll act.
Mindset sets the tone for performance.
6. Use Your Breath to Stay Calm
When fear takes over, the first thing to change is your body. Your breath becomes shallow. Your muscles tense. Your heart rate spikes.
You can’t always control your emotions, but you can control your breathing — and your breath influences your entire nervous system.
Slow, deep breaths signal safety to your brain. Breathe in for a count of four, hold for four, out for four. Repeat. This small habit can keep you grounded in high-stress moments.
7. Disengage from Negativity
Your environment affects your mindset. If you’re constantly exposed to negativity — especially through the news, social media or toxic people — fear becomes your baseline.
You don’t need to be uninformed. But doom-scrolling and dwelling in negativity won’t help you grow. Choose experiences that build you up. Play music. Get outside. Try something new. Learn something just for fun.
Confidence grows when your days are filled with meaningful, uplifting activity.
8. Know That You Are Enough
This one is simple but powerful: You are enough.
Even if you don’t have all the answers or experience yet, that doesn’t mean you’re not capable. Confidence doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from progress.
Work with what you’ve got, right now. Then build from there. Every successful person started with limited knowledge. But they believed they could figure it out — and they did. So can you.
9. Start Small, Build Fast
You don’t need to conquer your biggest fear today. You just need to take the first small step.
Make a list of the tasks you’ve been avoiding — from least intimidating to most. Then do the easiest one. Once it’s done, do the next. Momentum creates confidence.
Break your fear down into manageable pieces. Focus only on the step in front of you. By the time you reach the scarier items, you’ll already be stronger.
Fear Doesn’t Get to Win
Fear doesn’t have to disappear for you to succeed. It just has to take the passenger seat. You can be scared and still act. You can be uncertain and still move forward.
That’s how freedom works — not by waiting for fear to leave, but by moving forward anyway. Action is the cure. Decide to win. Chase risk. Prepare wisely. Expect the best. Stay grounded. And most of all — never forget that you are more capable than your fear wants you to believe.
To talk about any aspect of success or working with a Life Coach to help you to achieve success, you can book a 30-minute call by clicking on the blue button below.
Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.
Working together can help you overcome personal and professional barriers, ensuring you reach your highest potential.
Nothing happens until action is taken.
To your success.
Michael
P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching
P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.
P.P.P.S. You can download a free PDF containing five articles on Limiting Beliefs and how to overcome them and achieve things in your career and personal life.
The PDF can be downloaded here (and you don’t have to register or provide an email address) Limiting Beliefs Download
Download the file and go over the other material that you can find on the Confidence and Life Coaching website.
P.P.P.P.S. If you are ready to move even further into the process of Identifying and removing and replacing your Limiting Beliefs, you should consider my short Limiting Belief’s Coaching Program
Photo by Cristi Ursea on Unsplash