Unfounded Fears
While there are real fears in life, many of the fears we experience are unfounded and not rooted in reality.
In fact, “Most of the fear we feel in life is simply anxiety arising from our anticipation of [the] pain that change might bring” (Brendan Burchard, author of The Motivation Manifesto). Furthermore, considering change is often unpredictable, our minds are happy to present us with hundreds of scenarios that incite worry, angst, danger, and loss.
Our fears prey on our mindlessness. Our fears count on our inattention to the negative and destructive boundaries they create in our lives. An unfounded fear of being rejected by others will certainly lead to withdrawing and unapproachable energy (“I can’t be rejected if I just stay away from people.”). An unfounded fear of being wrong will likely lead to avoiding new and exciting challenges and projects at work (“I can’t be wrong if I don’t try.”). An unfounded fear of not being good enough will surely signal low confidence and insecurity (“It’s only a matter of time before they figure out I’m an imposter.”). Buchard cements this thought on unfounded fears by asking us, “How often do we so obsess on negative things that they grow into a great scorching fire of anxiety?”
Leaders, the call to action is not to spend our intellectual capital combating our fears all day. Rather, we are called to awareness and intentionality; to recognize the fears as they begin to take shape and redirect that mental energy into positive outcomes. While our fears may be unfounded, our choices and values are tools at our disposal that can assist us in facing reality, ambiguity, and uncertainty. So, leaders...how will you choose to handle your unfounded fears?
Quote for Growth
“[We’ve] evolved to the stage where almost all our fears are now self-created.”