Creating an Emotional Safety Net

Last week, I shared that by facing your fears, you can reduce them one brave step at a time.

But there’s an essential something that you need to have before you can move toward what makes you afraid: an awareness of how you’d cope if things go wrong.

Let's say that there's something you'd like to do - but you feel afraid.

Fear isn’t comfortable, so it’s normal to want to turn away from it. But by facing your fear head-on and asking it what it’s most afraid of, you’ll gain some very useful information.

Perhaps fear tells you that it’s afraid you don’t secure that new client for your business, because that’ll shake your self-belief.

It might feel that taking on that new challenge at work is risky because it could mean failure, and that would be pretty humiliating.

Or maybe it tells you it’s most afraid of heartbreak, and wonders if it’s really worth risking your heart.

Whatever it is, hear fear out. Because from there you get to respond.

Sometimes, just hearing what fear has to say is enough. Sometimes, your answer will be, “Actually, I could handle that…” or “Yes, that is worth the risk.”

Other times, it’ll mean taking a good look at how you would cope if those things do happen.

What would you tell yourself?

Who would you lean on for support?

What would you do to make yourself feel better?

Rather than obeying fear’s order to “avoid”, try to create a soft place to land in advance.

Just knowing you have a safety net in place can give you more courage.