Fear. We have all felt that sinking feeling in our stomachs when we are about to do something new, uncertain, or outside our comfort zone. Fear stops people from applying for their dream jobs, speaking up in a meeting, or starting the business they have always imagined.
Every successful person you admire has felt fear too. The difference? They acted anyway. The good news? You do not have to let fear control your decisions. Here are five ways to push past it and take bold action. Whether it is Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, or your local community leader, they all had to overcome fear to get where they are today.
1. Understand Your Fear (And Talk Back to It!)
Fear usually exaggerates reality. It tells you, you will fail. People will laugh. You are not good enough. But if you pause and challenge those thoughts, you will realize most are not even true. Ask yourself:
- What is the worst that could happen?
- If that happens, how would I handle it?
- What is the best that could happen?
Fear loves to focus on the negative, but shifting your mindset to possibilities instead of problems makes a huge difference.
2. Take Small but Brave Steps
Courage is not about taking a giant leap overnight but building confidence through small, brave actions. If public speaking scares you, start sharing your thoughts in a small group. If launching a business feels overwhelming, begin with one client or one product. Each step forward, no matter how small, is a victory. With each victory, fear loses its grip, and your confidence grows.
3. Change Your Relationship with Failure
One of the biggest reasons people stay stuck is the fear of failure. But what if you stopped seeing failure as something to avoid and started seeing it as a learning opportunity? Every mistake teaches you something. The people who succeed aren’t the ones who never fail—they’re the ones who keep going after they do.
4. Surround Yourself with Bold People
Confidence is contagious. Spending time around people who take risks, chase opportunities, and believe in themselves rubs off on you. Find a mentor, join a community of go-getters, and surround yourself with people who inspire you to step up.
5. Focus on Your “Why”
When fear creeps in, remind yourself why you wanted to act in the first place. Do you want to build a better future for yourself? Make an impact? Prove to yourself that you can do it? A strong “why” motivates you to push past fear and act.
Courage is not the absence of fear, it is moving forward despite it. What bold action will you take today?
