What do you do if fear and resistance are holding you back from career success?

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." Frank Herbert, dune

I make a point with my clients to acknowledge the resistance, and honor that it is probably a coping mechanism they developed in childhood to protect them from something. Once you invite fear and resistance in, give them a seat at the table, and listen to what they're trying to do, what they see as their mission and goal - usually, to keep you safe from e.g. embarrassment, which made you feel excluded in the past, which sent your nervous system into overdrive, and anchored the message of "avoid at all cost" - then your prefrontal cortex will stay in the driver's seat, and you'll be able to find creative and effective solutions. Acknowledge, process, and integrate, so fear and resistance don't sabotage your progress.

Understanding the reason behind your goals will help you stay motivated and committed. Reflect on your values, passions, and long-term aspirations to identify your purpose and use it as a driving force. Break down big goals into smaller milestones**: Large, long-term goals can feel overwhelming and may cause resistance. Break them down into smaller, manageable steps to make progress more achievable and build momentum. Track your progress.Regularly review your goals and track your progress to stay on course. Celebrate small wins along the way to maintain motivation and acknowledge your achievements. Prioritize and focus. Limit the number of goals you set at any given time to avoid spreading yourself too thin.

One thing I've found helpful in setting goals is to remember that a goal is an overarching desired outcome. Then you can set smaller more actionable goals to achieve the larger vision. Let's say you want to go to school for a new degree to change career fields and start classes within 2 years from now. Smaller goals to achieve that would involve researching at least 3 schools that have your desired degree, planning application essays and gathering relevant information, and possibly also saving money and/or applying to FAFSA on scheduled timelines that fit within your overarching goal.

Believe that your abilities and intelligence can be developed over time through dedication and hard work. Remind yourself of previous instances where you overcame challenges or learned from failures. This can help boost your confidence and serve as a reminder that you have the strength to persevere. Learn from successful individuals who have faced failures and setbacks. Their stories can provide inspiration and demonstrate the resilience needed to achieve your goals. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding when you experience failure. Recognize that mistakes are part of being human and that it's more important to learn from them than to dwell on the negative emotions they may evoke.

While embracing failure is essential, don't forget to celebrate the small victories along the way. Recognizing and celebrating micro-wins can boost your confidence and motivation. Each small success is a building block toward larger goals and reinforces positive behaviors. By focusing on and appreciating these incremental achievements, you'll build momentum and resilience, making it easier to face and overcome failures. This balanced approach helps maintain a positive mindset and keeps you motivated on your career journey.

The courage to reach out for help can often lead us to hearing out others opinions. We can use these perspectives and take time to introspectively review how they resonate within before taking action. Not only do others provide a sounding board, but the shared experience, caring encounters, and encouragement help us to know that we aren't alone and that there is a way forward.

It is very brave to seek support and ask for help. Whoever thinks otherwise they need some inner work themselves. We are all here to support each other on this journey of life and there are so many people out there who can offer the right kind of support you need. It is only a matter of asking for it. As the saying goes 'ask and you shall receive'.

Recuerda que las mejoras deben ser incrementales, y que ningún cambio realmente significativo ocurre de un momento a otro. Aunque las victorias sobre tus miedos parezcan peque?as, es la acumulación de estas victorias las que realmente producirán resultados importantes en tu vida. Reconocer y eventualmente celebrar esas peque?as victorias será una excelente manera de recargar energía y motivación para continuar adelante.

What are those fears? Start by speaking powerfully positive words to reinforce your faith & courage and dispel the negative thoughts making you scared. A client once shared how fear of dying young if she rose high held her back from achieving career success. We discussed & dealt with the root cause, PTSD, wrong orientation & potential threats and she learnt how to 'do it afraid' with wisdom and discernment because most of the things we are even afraid of are more imagined than real. If a resistance is holding you back from career success, identify it & find the best way to get rid of it which may sometimes require ruthless removal. Conquer the fear Crush the resistance Nothing should hold you back from achieving your career success.

Reframing fear is my favorite tool. What is the meaning you are giving to this fear? Could it mean something else? Could it be excitement for something new that you want? Something you haven't done before? Therefore it feels uncomfortable. But it's not scary.

My method of attack: Take a moment to sit with the feeling(s) of fear to drill-down to the root of the issue, then name that fear. By naming that fear you identify it, which provides the opportunity to turn that fear into a growth experience. Whenever fear, or failure, make their presence known my go-to mantra: "Something good will come from this!" Changes the mindset and clears the way for productive, and innovative, problem-solving coupled with in-depth growth. #