Most people can dream about where they want to be six months or a year from now, yet avoid making the necessary changes out of fear of failure, embarrassment, judgment, and sometimes, not knowing what to do with success.
It’s helpful to remember that fear is the mind trying to protect you from the unknown. However, to achieve what you want, you must understand that if nothing changes, everything will stay the same.
When it comes to the process of change, watching autumn leaves transform can be inspiring. They can be a powerful reminder that growth and change often mean letting go of the old to become someone new.
If you take the time to look, you’ll see how the leaves gradually change color without any hurry. Year after year, they go from bright greens to yellows, oranges, and reds before falling from the branches onto the ground. They are a powerful reminder that change is a process that should not be rushed but consistent.
As trees go through continuous seasons of change and growth, so does everyone else. Change is not a one-time occurrence but a lifelong process. Trees are not meant to have the same leaves on their branches all the time, and no one is intended to have the same thoughts and perspectives year after year. Change is a continuous process that takes time and is a natural part of life.
You have two ways to approach change, with fear and avoidance or taking small, colorful steps like the leaves, focusing on the positive and future potential of who you’re becoming. Everyone is on a different path, but all are on the journey together, encouraging and supporting one another.
If you ever feel anxious and worried when trying to make changes in your life, you’re not alone. Fear and self-doubt often come with change. But remember, you have the strength to be brave. You can handle these feelings and come out stronger. Next time fear and doubt creep up behind you, try applying these steps.
Breathe and Stay Grounded
When feelings of fear and doubt sneak up on you unexpectedly, taking deep breaths allows you to remain calm and grounded. This makes it easier to accept your emotions as they are without wanting to repress and ignore them. The more you practice allowing yourself to feel and observe them, the stronger you’ll become at controlling your emotions rather than them controlling you.
Realize You’re Not Your Thoughts
If nothing threatening or frightening is happening at that moment, your emotions may be coming from somewhere else, possibly from a previous experience rather than the present moment. This is where the concept of “you are not your thoughts” comes in. It means that your thoughts and emotions don’t define who you are. They are just passing experiences. Try to look beyond them and describe your feelings with words and phrases to yourself.
Accept Your Emotions
Rather than feeling overwhelmed or trying to ignore your emotions, accept and ease into them like you’re entering a dim tunnel and explore them with curiosity. Ask yourself these questions: What am I afraid of? What am I trying to control? What does this remind me of? What am I trying to run away from? What am I doing that needs to change? This process of self-acceptance and exploration is a crucial step in managing and understanding your emotions and thoughts. Keep a journal to write down the answers to your questions.
Visualize Positive Outcome
Take a few minutes to sit quietly and think about what you wrote. Then, step back and visualize your answers as if watching a movie. Now, switch what you see and hear from a negative experience holding you back from your goals to a positive experience. Change statements like “I can’t get a better job” to “I can get a better job,” “I’m not able to finish this course” to “I am able to finish this course” while visualizing yourself doing it. Seeing yourself doing or being where you want to be helps you become comfortable with accepting what you’re trying to create in the present without the fear and doubt coming from the unknown.
Every time you have positive thoughts, your brain releases serotonin and dopamine, which help you remain calm and happy. When you make it a habit of switching to positive thoughts, you’re training the mind to do it with less effort. Getting in the habit of seeing yourself making the changes you want to make and having positive thoughts simultaneously can eventually change how you respond to unexpected negative emotions.
Embark on the Journey of Small Steps
Be open to embark on the journey of small, powerful steps to help you get closer to what you’re trying to change or improve. These small steps help create a new experience that confirms your beliefs. What you believe about yourself creates your experiences, and your experiences verify your personal beliefs. If you have the mental and physical abilities to do it, you have the potential to become who you believe you are and accomplish what you think you can achieve.
Takeaway: F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” Taking the time to step back and practicing how you respond to the emotions and thoughts trying to hold you back is the first step to navigating the fear of change. This trains your mind to understand that you’re not afraid of change. You are willing to make small and steady changes to transform to another level in this season. Don’t back down when fear gets in your way, stand firm, be BRAVE, and look up at the leaves!