Listening to fear
If you aren’t afraid then you aren’t going anywhere. You should be afraid. If you don’t feel afraid, you’re life is too safe, too predictable.
I’ve found fear on both sides of success. On the front side of success, I’ve been afraid of failing. And on the back side of success, I’ve been afraid of failing. Honestly, fear of failure before success is better than fear of failure after success. There is less to lose if you fail before you succeed.
Leaders don’t overcome fear. They face it. They live with it. They listen to it.
Listen to fear.
It’s telling you where you must go. Fear is standing in front of the door you must open. It’s blocking the path you must walk down. It’s showing you the truth.
Listen to your fears.
- Husbands, you’re afraid you are giving more than you are getting. Keep giving.
- Leaders, you’re afraid if you keep going you will fail. Keep going.
- Volunteer, you’re afraid you aren’t appreciated. Give appreciation.
- Parents, you’re afraid your child will fail without you. They won’t.
Reach through the jeering beast and turn the knob on the door where fear stands. The more profound the fear the more important it is to listen.
Struggling with your next decision? Listen to fear. It’s showing you the way.
What path is fear blocking? What fear should you listen to? When should you not use fear in a positive way?
…
Leadership Freak
Dan Rockwell
Just started to receive your e-mails. I think they are very inspiring.
All of us feel fear at some time and your article just hits the nail on the head, it gives you that boost, that reminder, that help.
Thanks Dan
Karen,
Thanks for the good word! I just saw your email address on the new subscribers list. Thanks for subscribing and thanks for leaving a comment. I look forward to hearing more and learning from you.
Regards,
Dan
After my morning Daily Word, I look forward to seeing what your topic of the day will be.
FEAR: Everyone must go through it, the key is to do just that, go through it because there is an end. if you keep having to do the thing you fear the most on a frequent basis then it will no longer be fearful it now becomes routine, you will laugh at yourself down the road when you look back at what might now seem silly to be afraid of.
Beverly,
It’s an honor to be part of your morning routine. Thanks. And thanks for the encouragement that as we face our fears they tend to diminish over time.
All the best,
Dan
Wow…perfect, timely, and relevant in ALL areas of our lives! Thank you! Instead of using fear, which we all face, as an excuse to stagnate or a roadblock, you have turned the tables into using it as a motivator…powerful idea!
Toni,
You are another first time commenter. Thanks! I like how you say “turn the tables”… right on.
Regards,
Dan
I absolutely agree about having fear. We try to guard our lives (work, family, friendship, etc) by thinking we can be proactive to prepare ourselves that we shouldn’t be afraid of x, y and z when it occurs.
However, being afraid of failure makes us human and that is how we learn from our mishaps. In the end, leaders reflect back and feel blessed and resilient that we’ve learned another chapter about our lives.
Kim,
Your comments made me think back to a fearful time in my own life. Looking back, I am so glad a walked down the path that fear blocked! Like you said, we can reflect back and realize we have learned. My own experience validates your comment.
Thank you,
Dan
I love this, Dan. I posted a while back on how fear will kill your leadership career, but I think you expressed it even better than I did. I am developing a presentation about leadership that defines a leader as the person who finds the path forward. This is a great piece of that process.
Katy,
I’m honored you stopped in. Thanks for contributing. I visited your blog and read the post you mention. If anyone else is interested it at:
http://surviveyourpromotion.com/2010/02/14/fear-can-kill-your-career/#comment-218
Thanks
Dan
Gret post, Dan. I think those of us who are parents deal with this a lot — we are afraid our children will lose interest in this or that activity, or won’t have “enough success to keep at it” that we short circuit things and prevent them from ever developing their own “fire in the belly.”
Paula
thanks for coming back. And thanks for turning the conversation to parenting. We mistakenly think that leadership development is exclusively for managers and supervisors and executives.
The greatest need for leadership development is right in our homes with our moms and dads.
Regards,
Dan
While I understand your viewpoint and intention, I have to disagree with your terminology. Fear is not a sign of a progressive life, it’s a sign of insecurity. If you are truly secure, you will not feel fear.
You shouldn’t be fearful, you should be at peace, concerned and aware. Fear is not productive, peace is.
Media,
Love that you dropped in and left a useful comment. Hope to see you again and learn more.
Best,
Dan