Living in fear is no good to anyone, but what if you could utilize a healthy amount of fear to drive yourself forward? Would you be able to become a better you? And if so, what would that person look like?
Let’s take a look at a few ways you can use fear to motivate yourself so that you go out into the world and do whatever it is that you’re passionate about.
Fear motivates you to take action
The first thing we should say about fear, is that it’s great that it’s an uncomfortable feeling. If it were enjoyable or desirable, then you’d settle for it and nothing would ever change. When you want to succeed where others haven’t, you’re going to need to break the mold and go out there and do things differently.
Even if you’re only competing against yourself to be the best person you can be, you need to change things if you want to continue to grow. Fear is what tells you that you need to do this, so listen to it. Commit to taking action so that you can get to where you want to go.
You will have the drive to move quickly and efficiently
One of the most important things in life is urgency. If you’re looking for some powerful motivation, then the need to do something right there and then is all you’ll need to spring into action.
Fear is what drives you forward and tells you that you need to act fast. That’s not to say you want to act with abandon or haste — that’s never the best approach. Stay calm and focused, but be well aware of the need to move quickly if you want to change things. Think of the fear you feel as someone cheering you on from the sidelines. Once you embrace it like this, you’ll be glad it’s a part of your life.
Healthy fear will make you hungry to succeed when others stay still
Looking around and seeing others stand still is a curious thing. Either they don’t have the fear of failure and mediocrity on their side, or they’re just not willing to put in the work. Whichever one it is, you can use their inaction as added motivation.
Whether you enjoy training when no one else is, working when no one else is, or putting in an extra hour’s study a day, it’s up to you. The specifics will depend on what it is you want to achieve, but never shy away from the fact that others aren’t prepared to do what you are. Use this inner hunger that a healthy source of fear gives you, and use it to propel yourself forward when others appear to be standing still.
It will allow you the freedom to take controlled risks
Imagine if you wanted to start your own writing service. People would probably tell you it’s a risk and you’d be better off working for someone else. Listen to these people and you will develop a fear of failure that will drive you forward. Don’t follow them, otherwise you won’t accomplish what you set out to do. But listen to the negativity, and use the fear that then manifests itself as your motivation.
You’ll find new ways to move yourself forward. When you encounter setbacks you’ll know you must find a way around them. And you will never want to look back because the future is where you’re headed.
You will want to get to work, not feel like you have to go
Whether you’re studying, or training, a fear of failure is what will make you do it. You will want to win at whatever it is you’re doing, and that drive alone will propel you out of bed in the mornings.
If you’re comfortable then you’ll see these things as distractions from hanging out with your friends or going out on the weekends. But if you have fear, you’ll feel there’s a risk in not working hard, in not training longer, and in not studying with sufficient focus. The fear inside you is what will drive you to push that little bit harder out of necessity. Not just because someone is telling you that you have to do it.
Your creativity will go to the next level as you look for a new approach to life
When you use fear as motivation for your goal setting, you will likely experience a surge in creativity. Too many people turn their backs on their goals at the first sign of trouble. This means that all manner of projects go uncompleted because they appear to be difficult.
When you’re driven by a fear of failure, your discomfort will mean that success is the only choice you can make. By removing the option of giving up, you can focus all of your creative efforts on finding a way to move forward. This focusing of the mind is a powerful tool that you can use to your advantage.
When you see someone apparently acting without fear, you’ll want to know how they do it
The great thing about campus life is that you get to mix with people from all walks of life. The most successful people that you come across will be people who appear confident, calm, and collected when the pressure is on. They seem to cruise through life, making it look unerringly easy.
Inside of them though they have a healthy fear that drives them to do more, push harder, and reach higher. If you want to know if using fear as your motivator works, then look at these kinds of people and have the confidence that you can do the same.
Comfort zones and complacency will become a thing of the past
Nothing ever got done from inside someone’s comfort zone. It may not be the easiest thing to hear, but you’re going to need to pull yourself out of your comfort zone if you want to succeed.
Remind yourself of what failure and mediocrity look like, but balance this with a clear picture of what success looks like. This will enable you to keep your fear healthy so that it doesn’t overwhelm you and cloud your judgement.
The future will become your focus
If you want to know how to use fear as your greatest motivator, then you need to know that it will focus your mind on the future. There’s nothing more detrimental to your longterm success than living in the past. Don’t replay past failures in your mind. Use them as the inspiration that you need to do things bigger, better, and faster next time around.
If you can do that, they’ll you be able to reap the rewards of using healthy fear as your perfect motivator. Ideal for breaking down barriers and pushing on to new heights as you go in search of the results your hard work and effort deserves.
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