What am I putting off out of Fear?

Have you ever asked yourself, “What am I putting off, out of fear?” It’s a question that could lead you to some profound realizations about your life. What are the things that you’ve always wanted to do, but never pursued because of fear or uncertainty? What does that fear cost you in terms of missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams?

The truth is, the things that we fear the most are often the things that we need to do the most. But instead of facing our fears, we tend to avoid them and make excuses. We tell ourselves that we’re not ready, that we don’t have enough time or that we’ll do it later. But the reality is that there will never be a perfect time to do the things we fear. We just have to take the leap and trust that everything will work out.

One way to get past our fears is to focus on what excites us. Instead of asking “What do I want?” or “What is my goal?”, ask yourself “What would excite me?” What are the things that you’ve always wanted to do, but have been too afraid to pursue?

Think back to a time when you were the most excited in your life. What were you doing? What made you feel alive and inspired? Now, ask yourself, “What would I do if I couldn’t fail?” Make a list of five things you dream of having, five things you dream of being, and five things you dream of doing.

Once you’ve identified the things that excite you, it’s time to take action. What would make you excited to wake up tomorrow? Remember, the most important activities are never comfortable. It’s easy to get caught up in doing the unimportant things well, but that doesn’t make them important. Requiring a lot of time to do something doesn’t make it important either.

As Peter Drucker said, “what gets measured gets managed!” If you want more clients and more income, you need to focus on the things that actually move the needle. Don’t get caught up in being busy for the sake of being busy. A lack of time is really just a lack of priorities. Time is a precious resource, and it’s easy to waste it when there’s so much available. But why do we need 8 hours to get work done each day? If we fill 8 hours just because we have it, wouldn’t we fill it if it were available? Dedication is often just meaningless work and effort in disguise.

Remember, you are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Surround yourself with people who inspire and motivate you. And finally, a wealth of information creates a property of attention. Focus on the things that matter most, and let go of the rest. As William of Occam said, “It is vain to do with more that can be done with less.”