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The fallacy of being fearless

Do you have something in the back of your mind that just keeps bugging you?  You know, that one thing that you avoid because it scares you. However, you just know it’s the right thing to do because it would do wonders for your life or business.  We usually refer to these things as “shoulds”. We often say things like “I should be…” and they are usually followed up with “but…”. Yeah, the ‘but” is always out there.  The common view on these items is that we are to have complete lack of fear for us to take the appropriate action. Oh what a mistake that is!
We see others that seem to have it all together.  Nothing seems stops them. They are more proactive, they get more done in less time, they just “have it”.  All too often we look at these individuals as “having it” like that is some sort of mystical force that we are unable to acquire.  They just exhume a sense of fearlessness.

I am in front of large groups of people quite often to speak and it amazes me the number of people that think that I am not nervous or fearful.  Far from it. Most performers I know say they have some level of nervousness no matter how long they have been doing it. Another example is making calls and converting potential customers to an appointment.  I became very proficient in conversion. Making 2-3 hours of calls every day was not any particular joy to me. Nor was it something I looked forward to every time. However most of my peers, that saw me, thought I was just crazy and enjoyed doing it.   I actually enjoyed the results, not the calls. The never-ending stream of appointments generated was enough to get me past that initial hump to pick up the phone. Being fearless is what so many people are looking to be before they can pull the trigger.  Oh what a fallacy! There is a very fine line between being fearless and being foolish.

I believe the characteristic that is far more productive in our lives is that of courage.  It takes courage to make that initial step. It takes courage to follow through. We have this idea that taking a necessary action should be precluded by a lack of negative emotion.  The sooner you can grasp the notion that fear can serve you, the sooner you can have the results you are after. Being fearless on many actions can many times lead to irrational behavior.  Basically what I am saying is that it is your fear that keeps you rational, and it is courage that moves you forward. Forward into the direction that you pre-determine is the next rational step in your development of any goal.  Courage by my definition is the ability to take action in spite of fear, not from the lack of it.

Having the courage to step up and deliver when you know you should, can be done by applying our Action Model.  In one of our workshops we conduct, we explain how purpose, state, and beliefs dictate our actions (and inactions too).  

  • My first suggestion to you is determine “why bother?” taking this action.  
  • My second is are you in the right state? (physically, mentally, emotionally)
  • My third is challenge your beliefs around this action
Take a look once again at that action you know you need to take.  How amazing would you feel if you took that one action? How much would your life change?  What are the long-term benefits? Others have the courage, why not you? Others have that lifestyle, why not you?  (by the way, if you are thinking “I can’t because…” , then you have a belief challenge you and I should address individually, let’s talk).  

Take the action.  Be a courageous person, not a fearless one.  
Jacksonville, FL, USA

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