Can we talk about fear?

This past week, I was confronted with a deep-rooted feeling that exists inside of me. I was forced to analyze how/why I felt the way that I did about this topic. And then, identify what this feeling really was and where it came from. This analysis took me to the word "fear."

And after even further analysis and speaking with colleagues and coaches, we as individuals, carry with us fears that we don't even realize are just that. And often, this fear is misaligned. It has no meaning. There is actually nothing on the other side. It is often a fear of . . . nothing.

You see, fear manifests itself in various ways in our lives. And while in some cases, it serves as a defense mechanism, it often is unfounded. Here are some words that that often manifest on the surface of some of our deep-rooted fears:

Self-doubt

Embarrassment

Prejudice

Discrimination

Unconscious bias

Procrastination

Imposter Syndrome

Risk-averse

Relationship issues

Addiction

Insomnia

Fixed mindset

Self-sabotage

Indecision

Self-limiting beliefs

Self-image

Self-deprecation

Need to be liked (or followed)

As you review these words and reflect on where they may be present in your own lives, please follow-up by asking yourself, "what am I afraid of?" And when you realize it is a fear of nothing or it's just a fear of what others will think, take the next step in order to strategize and implement the small actions or behaviors needed to move one step closer to what overcoming will look like (and one step closer to experiencing your greatness).

Fear comes from uncertainty. When we are absolutely certain, whether of our worth or worthlessness, we are almost impervious to fear. ~William Congreve