Your Fear of Looking “Stupid” is Holding You Back: A Mindset Analysis
We’ve seen this all over the internet, now let’s figure out how to apply it our lives!
Exposure is a key component in most of the dreams that we all wish to achieve, yet so many of us are afraid of it. The fear of perception is a plague that has affected our lives in the worst way. This fear turns into self-doubt, which turns into reluctance, which turns into stagnancy, which inevitably results in regret. Think about this: In 15 years, would you rather look back and wonder what life could have been if you acted on your dreams instead of reveling in the beautiful life you have created for yourself? If the answer is yes, there is nothing I can do for you… but if the answer is no, keep reading. Now is the time to break free from your fear of being seen and share your greatness with the world one step at a time. Below are three simple questions I want you to ask yourself to develop a more care-free mindset about your goals:
What exactly are you afraid of?
Take a minute to get down to the root of your fear. If you are serious about improving your mindset, I suggest writing this down on paper or typing it in your phone’s notes section. Dig as deep as you need to! I guarantee that you will realize your fear is rather irrational after dissecting your mindset. For me, it was that people would see me and think, “who does she think she is?” or other unsupportive thoughts.
Then I realized:
1. It was a problem I made up in my own head, or a recurring statement from the past that no longer applies.
2. Even if people did think that, they are more than likely projecting their feelings of stagnancy. People genuinely secure in themselves and their dreams will never poke fun at you for branching out.
3. Nobody’s thoughts or opinions should have that much power over me.
What is the worst that could happen?
Realistically, what is the worst outcome to showcasing your talents, voice, creations, inventions, etc with the world? If you are worried that nobody will listen or care, there are approximately 8 billion people in the world. You will find your community, or even better, you will build it. If you are anything like me and claimed that “failure” was the worst thing that could happen then I’ve got some news for you! Failure only exists when you give up. You never know when doors will begin to open for you, so keep pushing until you are there.
What are you going to lose?
Besides losing your fear of being perceived and tendency to overthink, are you losing anything important? The answer for the majority of us is a huge N-O. If you lose unsupportive people in your life or grow from your stagnant environment, that should be viewed as a divine cleansing. As long as you are not causing harm to yourself or anybody else, the “cons” to chasing your dreams are most likely self-made restrictions.
Take Your First Step
Humans have the innate desire to protect ourselves from harm. However, when your fears are a form of self-sabotage, the only “harm” you are protecting yourself from is your dream life. Mindset shifts are crucial as a young adult because millions of people have forced themselves to fit into small boxes their entire lives. I understand how nerve-wracking sharing yourself with the world can be. I understand the anxiety that comes with meeting new people and going after the opportunities you want. I understand the fear of being perceived by people who are only familiar with old versions of you, and I definitely understand the fear of failure. This platform serves as a way for me to grow out of that limiting mindset while inspiring others to do the same. Our dreams are not going to build themselves and your future is in your hands only. I hope you actually take the time to dive deep into yourself and gain the courage to listen to your soul. This world has enough wasted potential, please do not add to it! <3
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