Time to Play and Overcome Your Fears

When we were children we were less afraid weren’t we?

If you grew up in the 60′s and 70′s we had far fewer rules. Quite ridiculous but we didn’t even wear seatbelts!

I remember climbing trees and riding my bike for miles, going out in the evenings with my younger brother, not coming home ’til it got dark.  Playing outside, fearless.

Sadly, fear is something we learn.  We are only born with two fears and that’s the fear of falling and loud noises. Surprisingly,  all other fears are learned.  I was quite shocked when I learned that fact.  But it’s a good fact.

It means, if we have learned to fear, we can un-learn our fears.  As well as helping people to get over the fear of ‘selling’, I have helped people to  their nerves and present with more confidence, get over the fear of flying so they can enjoy summer holidays again; an interior designer to get over her fear of dogs, so she can work in more houses. And I’ve had to deal with many fears myself including being able to present to more than 2 people!

When we do feel fear we are usually manifesting the fear in our minds.  Often by rapid negative self-talk.  Which leads to feeling unsure, not good enough, and then sometimes we experience physical reactions too like a rapid heartbeat, shaking and sweating. Not very helpful at all is it if you’re about to present?  But, we can change this.

Remember we feel our thinking.  So…

Change what you think and you can change how you feel.

Our brains don’t know the difference between a real or imagined experience.   Which can hinder us in many ways if we’re always thinking the worst, getting anxious or being harsh on ourselves.

Reframe! If our brains don’t know if it’s a real or imagined experience,  this can also be very helpful to us indeed.

For example, it means we can practise the art of presenting from our desks.  Of course we need good content but it’s usually thinking about presenting that puts most people off.

With everything going on, this visualistaion exercise will help boost your confience. When you are reading through your presentation to your clients, or preparing to present online to your networking group on a zoom call,  imagine it all working out well. This will work wonders for your self-belief, confidence and your presentation.

Build your confidence by thinking it will work out, in your mind, see it all working out well.  Try it!  Take time to practise this.  Over and over again, so you’re creating new neural pathways and building a new way of thinking instead and your fears will dissipate.

Today, I ask you, what would you do if you weren’t afraid? 

How would you feel instead? Picture yourself doing it and it all working out well.

Smile so your brain knows you like it. Notice what you notice.

If you were a child again, would you really have those fears anyway?  No, I thought not.   Re-frame.  Think it will work out well.

Enjoy having a child-like fascination of the world and see things for the first time again. In all its wonder.

Be without fear, well, only the two you were born with!

Go sparkle

To your success and happiness,

Jo James xx

P.S. Power Hours for Students