7 Steps to Push Beyond Fear and Achieve Your Goals

Is Fear Preventing You From Stepping into Your Destiny?

We are all created with special abilities and gifts. Unfortunately, sometimes the fear of stepping out with confidence prevents us from realizing these gifts. We don’t have to let fear and anxiety cripple our chance to real success.  If you have dreams that you are afraid of pursuing, here are a few tips to help you step into your destiny:

1. When fear and anxiety set in, it is important to recognize and accept that you are feeling fearful. Many people see fear as a weakness and, therefore refuse to embrace it as a natural part of our human experience.  Without acceptance it is difficult to move forward towards a solution.
2. Evaluate your own circumstances to determine if your fear or apprehension is grounded in reality. You may need to engage the help of a good friend or cohort for this exercise. Embrace some good, positive, informed and realistic minds who have your best interest at heart to determine if you are equipped with the right “stuff” to move forward. I love this imagery below! Does a bird really need a parachute? The picture illustrates how fear cripples the bird’s natural ability to fly. What area of your life is fear crippling?  
3. If you really want to do something and you are faced with the reality of not having the abilities or resources yourself, networking is always a good option.  No need to fear.  You don’t have to do it alone. Find individuals with similar interests and goals to help propel your dreams forward. Many success stories are wrought out of a simple idea.
4. Set realistic and achievable goals. This helps to prevent much stress and anxiety along the way. One of the important things for me as a project manager is to be realistic in goals setting and to constantly evaluate those goals, as well as my stakeholder’s appetite for what is being delivered. I also try to implement this practice into my personal life, since identifying potential risks to achieving my goals help me plan strategies to move forward. One strategy that is always necessary is to be ready to abort the project or put it on hold, if necessary. This strategy is often overlooked by many because it is seen as failure. However, embracing the old adage, “there is more than one way to skin a cat” helps to put things into perspective. It simply means that you have tried one way that is not yielding the benefits you desire and it is time to look at other scenarios. Don’t be afraid of what people might say. Keep in mind that the path to success is different for everyone.
5. Make and execute a plan. Keep on-top of your targets with an eye on your goals. At the same time, be ready to exercise some flexibility. Plan to give yourself room to adjust, as people and circumstances tend to change over time. Here is where much stress can spiral into chaos. Don’t try to be a hero here; be realistic and remain positive. If you have not allotted yourself enough room for adjustments, expect challenges. Keep in mind that timing is everything in today’s ever-changing global economy.
6. As you begin to move through your plans, also set realistic expectations about the human factor. Remember that you are not perfect, and mistakes do happen.  This is an important factor in anything you do. Give yourself enough room for mistakes and have a plan for recovery; you, and others that might be helping you, are human and prone to imperfections.
7. Keep it simple, remember to be flexible, and be kind to yourself. Now release your fears, work the process and step into your destiny!