I actually consider that once we have interaction with matters just like the one I’m going to handle and sort out right here, we enrich not simply our personal lives, but in addition these we contact instantly or not directly, whether or not that’s in our private lives or in our work lives.

At present, I’m going to discover an emotion that all of us expertise—one only a few of us harness successfully. It’s one thing that may be each debilitating and highly effective. That emotion is concern.

An emotion all of us expertise

Worry is one thing that has historically been seen as an adversary, one thing to keep away from, one thing that holds us again. It’s an emotion that instantly lets us know when some sort of hazard is round, whether or not that hazard is bodily and close to us or extra psychological in nature. Worry has the ability to be a very immobilizing emotion, usually leaving us anxious and not sure within the quick time period.

Worry usually offers us a “battle or flight” response the place we develop into alarmed. We’ve got to make the choice to both keep and face the hazard or select to flee away from the stressor. As a primal emotion, concern may cause your physique to arrange itself for no matter motion you select—be that staying or fleeing. You’ll be performing below stress it doesn’t matter what, and concern is the go-to emotion in occasions of stress.

However what if I advised you that concern, when understood and harnessed appropriately, might be one in every of your biggest motivators? Let’s unpack that for a second, lets?

Think about that you simply’re on the fringe of a cliff and your purpose is on the opposite aspect. Worry would possibly maintain you from taking that first leap. You could be too frightened to even take into consideration stepping a toe off that cliff and end up frozen to the spot. 

However that concern is similar concern that additionally helps to intensify your senses. It focuses your thoughts and provides you a rush of adrenaline getting ready you for no matter your subsequent motion is. 

So, right here is the important thing: Worry will not be the issue.

Unpacking concern itself

Worry is a pure response, it’s an intuition designed to guard us. It’s a response and an emotion all of us really feel that’s been key to our survival! It may be a powerful emotion that prompts visceral, instinctive reactions. 

However the actual downside lies in our response or our response to our personal concern. Typically, we let concern management us. Typically concern even dictates our choices or limits our potential. However I believe it’s time we shift that narrative, don’t you? As an alternative of seeing concern as a wall, let’s have a look at it as a sign or an indicator that we’re about to embark on one thing magical, one thing nice, one thing that issues and one thing that can have an effect on others in a constructive method.

The true energy of concern

I’ve executed quite a lot of public talking in my profession. And but, if I’m being fully weak, it’s nonetheless one in every of my biggest fears. All of us have fears that really feel like huge obstacles we’d not ever recover from. My concern of public talking was once debilitating for me. However I have a look at that concern otherwise as we speak.

I used to be fortunate sufficient to have a mentor, somebody who’s arguably top-of-the-line public audio system within the business, on this planet. He watched me panic earlier than occurring stage in entrance of seven,000 folks. After I caught him me, I apologized. I used to be so embarrassed for him to see me behaving like that. 

However he gave me a few of the greatest recommendation round concern that I may have ever obtained. He advised me: 

“Amy, don’t apologize. Your panic earlier than occurring stage says that you simply care about your viewers. I don’t fear about you being nervous earlier than talking. That concern is ardour to attach and willpower to ship worth. In the event you ever don’t really feel a bit nervous or a degree of concern earlier than delivering to an viewers, that’s when you must fear. That’s once I would fear. That’s when you must stop. That’s a sign that your ardour is gone.”

I take into consideration that recommendation earlier than each public talking engagement or gig I’ve. I acknowledge that my concern is occurring. I perceive it higher now, together with why it’s taking place and the way I can use it as a motivator. 

3 steps to harnessing the ability of concern as a motivator

Acknowledging concern itself can appear scary. However acknowledgment of concern can do two issues: assist to dispel the concern and assist to harness the concern.

The recommendation my mentor gave to me is the recommendation that I prolong to you on how you can harness concern.

1. Acknowledge the concern. You is perhaps afraid of failure, rejection or of the unknown. And that’s okay. Admitting that you simply’re scared isn’t an indication of weak spot. It’s recognition of your humanity. In a 2012 research from a crew of UCLA psychologists even discovered that verbally acknowledging concern will help us regulate the sensation.
2. Perceive your concern. What are you actually afraid of? Dig deep into your concern. Understanding your concern will allow you to develop methods to confront it. You would possibly understand that the factor you’re terrified of isn’t as daunting as you initially thought or that you simply’re extra able to overcoming it than you initially gave your self credit score for. 
3. Use concern as a stepping stone, not as a stumbling block. Let your concern, no matter it might be for, remind you that you simply’re on the sting of one thing important. As an alternative of working away, use that concern to encourage you and propel you ahead.

With these steps in thoughts, the following time you’re feeling concern creeping in, take a minute to pause. Pausing offers you further time to step again and hearken to and perceive the concern. Use that understanding of your concern to gas your journey towards success.

Keep in mind, concern isn’t the enemy. It’s a compass displaying us what issues and pushing us to develop. You need to use the ability of concern as a stepping stone towards your targets and private achievements. You might be stronger than your fears, it doesn’t matter what they could be. 

Picture by ©Mike D’Avello.