Fear

"Fear is an Opportunity to Look at a Belief System That is No Longer Working for You"

Lately, my new favorite saying has been, "Fear is an opportunity to look at a belief system that is no longer working for you." How great is that?! This simple idea is a total game-changer for how we think about fear, worry, and anxiety. Instead of viewing fear as something that just holds us back, we can use it as a tool to uncover beliefs that might be limiting us.

Imagine this: the next time you find yourself thinking, "I’m afraid," or "I’m worried," or "I’m nervous," take a moment to pause and dive deeper. Ask yourself, "If this thing I’m afraid of actually happened, what would it mean about me?" This question helps you peel back the layers to reveal what you believe about yourself that might be keeping you stuck. It’s often a belief we’ve picked up somewhere along the way—a story we’ve held onto unconsciously—that may no longer be serving us.

Of course, it’s essential to note that this approach only applies when you’re safe. If there’s an actual threat in your environment—a tiger, a bear, a burning building, or a violent person or situation—the fear you’re feeling is absolutely valid and is there to protect you. In those cases, fear isn’t about limiting beliefs; it’s about survival, and your priority should be to find safety, not to analyze the belief behind it.

But in situations where there isn’t a direct threat, this practice can be incredibly illuminating. Let’s say you’re afraid of speaking up in a meeting. You ask yourself, "If I speak up and it doesn’t go well, what does that mean about me?" Maybe you realize that deep down, there’s a belief that you’re “not competent enough” or that you “should always have all the answers.” This belief might have kept you safe at some point, but now it’s holding you back from meaningful opportunities. Once you make this belief conscious, you have a choice: you can continue to act from this place of fear and limitation, or you can decide to take action from a place of growth, curiosity, and self-compassion.

When we uncover these limiting beliefs, it’s like we’re shining a light on the shadows. Fear and worry lose their power as we see them for what they really are—outdated ideas that no longer fit who we are or who we’re becoming. From this new awareness, we can choose to make decisions based on expansion, excitement, and alignment with our true values.

So, the next time fear creeps in (and there’s no actual danger), try asking yourself what it might be trying to show you about your beliefs. It could be an invitation to grow, to challenge an old story, and to step into a more meaningful, fulfilling life.

Happy learning, growing, and expanding!