Are you operating out of fear?

Are you operating out of fear?

This week has been one of deep reflection and thought for me.

I participated in several integral community-based conversations this week that were incredibly eye-opening:

1. 1:1 call with a community member in Creator Science Lab

2. Monthly Think Tank (via the Lab) on Navigating Mental Health as an Online Creator

3. Small Group Session with Foster Writing Cohort

4. Conversations with teammates about how organizational leadership if affecting employee morale

There were intense and insightful moments in each of the forums above — ones that I’m incredibly grateful for. Through each of these conversations, there was a common thread that continued to poke its head out the window:

Are you operating out of fear?

On a day-to-day basis, we’re faced with making tens of thousands of decisions, impacting our lives in ways both big and small.

But when it comes to the life’s big questions, like “What do you want to do professionally?”, it can be easy to drop into the familiar state of risk avoidance.

I was challenged, repeatedly this week, to acknowledge whether I’m operating from a fear-based mindset, and the answer is a big ol’ resounding: YES.

Like any human problem, the first step is to acknowledge it.

Then, you’ve got to face it head on.

• Where is that fear derived from?

• What’s really holding you back?

• What is the worst-case scenario?

I started to answer these questions, but have more work to do.

In the process, though, it got me thinking — who else out there is operating this way?

In what ways have you taken accountability for fear-based decision-making?

What would happen if you put fear aside? What would be possible for you?

How can you change your approach?

I realize that there are about a dozen questions here, but as a classic over-thinker, that’s what’s present for me.

I’d love to hear how you have, or wish, to work through these same motions.

This post (snippet below) shared by a contributor to today’s Monthly Think Tank really sums up the idea of “what’s holding you back” beautifully:

As always, hit ‘reply’ and let me know if you have anything you’d like to share on the questions or reflection above.