When You’re Afraid of Putting Yourself Out There

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Have you ever avoided something because you were afraid of putting yourself out there?

Wanting to hide in the corner and succeed anyway is a feeling I know all too well.

But I also know that if I want to do work I love, I have to go out there and actually do something.

I can’t let other people, or my fears, control my life.

Yes, you may face negativity when you start a business, write, or whatever it is that you want to do.

But so what?

Let people criticize you, but you keep moving forward.

Anyone who says something negative has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with their internal state.

Why Are We So Afraid Of Putting Ourselves Out There?

There’s a reason public speaking is one of the biggest fears today. I mean, some people would rather die than get up on a stage.

We, as a people, are deathly afraid of what other people think of us.

But what you may not realize is that other people are busy thinking the same thing. At some point in our evolution, I’m sure this fear of standing out came in handy, but it isn’t relevant anymore.

Not in our society.

Standing out is a necessity if you want to do what you love. Don’t shy away from your fear. Use it as a sign on where you should go next.

Let it lead you to opportunity, growth and a better life.

How to Move Forward Despite Fear

The cold hard truth is that you’ll move forward when you’re sick of staying where you are.

Think about where you’ll be five, ten or even twenty years from now if you let your fears control you.

It doesn’t look too good, does it?

Now think about where you’ll be if you challenged your fears and took action. How would your life be different if you did that?

You see, when you think about putting yourself out there, you’re letting self-created thoughts control you. You don’t know what people will think of you even if the worst happens.

You can only speculate.

As I’ve kept facing my fears, I’ve learned that my fears all too often have no bearing in reality.

They are merely unproductive thoughts that lead to more unproductive thoughts.

Being Fearless is a Myth

If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that being fearless is a myth.

I’m worried and scared a lot, because I’m pushing my boundaries.  If I’d settle, I’d get bored. Being afraid is a sign that I’m actually living life.

Even if I get rid of my fears today, more will take their place tomorrow.

Sometimes I run off the rails, but to avoid that in the future, I work with a business coach.

Fears are like dragons. They can eat you alive, or you can tame them and fly to your destination.

Training dragons takes time, but it starts with one single step.

Make a Decision to Start, Right Now

Everyone is afraid of putting themselves out there.

The people who succeed are afraid, just like you, but they take action anyway, because they’ve learned to tame their dragons.

When I stopped waiting for things to be perfect, I started seeing massive results in my life and my business.

The same will happen to you, too, if you’re willing to start.

Don’t wait for anything to happen. Instead do what you can with what you have.

Put yourself out there and challenge your fears.

If you don’t, you’ll just regret it down the road.

The choice is yours.