Fight 5 ambition busters

4. Paralysed by fear
There are a variety of fears that can bring the pursuit of a dream to a halt. Caron sites the following as common setbacks:
• fear of failure (and, on the flip side, of success)
• fear of change
• fear of the unknown
• fear of rejection
• fear of revealing true feelings and dreams to the world
• fear of judgment

Inhibiting effects: According to Caron, we allow fear to paralyse us because "we don't want to feel emotional pain such as disappointment, anxiety, hopelessness or loneliness." This is a block because when people are idle, so are their dreams. Fear can also slow momentum and force people to second-guess themselves when they shouldn't.

How to know if you are stuck: "Thinking of your dream gives you anxiety, and you just don't want to take action or even think about it," Caron says. "You give yourself a lot of reasons 'why not.'" Other symptoms may include procrastinating and making excuses for your inaction.

Overcome the obstacle: Caron's tips for defeating your fears are:
• Do as the title of Susan Jefferies' book says, "Feel the fear and do it anyway."
• Consider options for reducing risk.
• Make a list of what would be the worst and best that could happen.
• Write down your fears and then separate irrational fears from rational ones.

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