Updated 9 March 2022
‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’ is the title of a book by Susan Jeffers and this is what I say when I am training Assertiveness and Confidence Building. I certainly feel that when I am trying to sell anything or bidding for contracts. Often we feel safer in our comfort zones but when outside it, then this is a different feeling.
Why mention this as a tip for wellbeing you may ask?
Well if you don’t do what you really want to as you are so afraid, this can then lead to losing confidence, self-esteem and then impacting on your physical and mental wellbeing.
Amazingly, when you do whatever you are fearful of and actually manage it, leads to feeling great about yourself. Often, participants on my courses get in touch and let me know what progress they are making and it is fantastic to have this feedback of how well they are getting on.
Once you have managed to get over this fear on one occasion, it can be easier the next time but so often it isn’t as we are still fearful of rejection. However, it is good just to take a step back and consider the previous occasion and to think positively about it happening again maybe a different way and think of a few scenarios of you overcoming your fear.
Everyone even very confident people still feel fear but so often they can almost cover it up with appearing confident but inside they are fearful.
So go on and make that call or see that person you don’t want to speak to as you are feeling the fear but you now want to do it anyway. Give it a go and you will surprise yourself at how well you got on and next time it will not be quite so bad. This will lead to you being more confident, build self-esteem and become more resilient.