Always do what you’re afraid to do – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Always do what you’re afraid to do: Fear is beautiful – I think it is one of those overrated emotions that we avoid. But fear can be powerful and a great source of confidence and energy if used well. This quote is one of those stunning reminders on how to use fear to grow and build our life.

As simple as it is – always do what you are afraid to do – the quote goes deeper than that. We must question the validity of this fear, what it is telling us and finally do something about it. Unless we do something about what we are afraid of, there is no progress in life. With a clear call to act on our fears, let’s dig deep and understand the meaning of this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson on fear.

• The Death Of Fear Is In Doing What You Fear To Do -Sequiche Comindeer
• Where Your Fear is, There is Your Task – Carl Jung

Always do what you’re afraid to do

It is simple – find your fear and act on it. Sometimes it is hard to do this because the fear is so big. In such cases, the least we can do is build a pathway or a plan to tackle what we are afraid of. As long as we have a journey, we send a signal to our mind that we are doing something about our fear. This immediately helps us build our confidence and treat this fear differently.

I like the simplicity in this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson – Always do what you’re afraid to do! It is amazing to discover how many things scare and excite us. However, sometimes these fears stand in the way of achieving our dreams. Overcoming fears play a huge role in ensuring that we exploit these opportunities to the fullest. Fears however are a powerful emotion to listen to – don’t ignore them, but also don’t let them control your life. The only thing that should be controlling your decisions is your thoughts. These thoughts will incorporate how to deal with fear to take actions that you’re afraid of.

• Fear is not real, it is a product of your thoughts!

Doing the things that you are afraid of

It helps build confidence. This shows that the things that you’re afraid of aren’t so bad afterall. Most importantly, it makes you aware that you can face your fears and become stronger. It is only beyond these fears that you’ll find your opportunities.

Start small – pick up small fears, and try facing them in a safe space. Don’t be afraid of failures, use them as feedback and keep moving forward. The aim of this exercise is not to find the solution but to become good at facing your fears and moving forward. This is like developing a muscle for doing things that you’re afraid of.

How to work on your fears

This article is based on the premise – always do what you’re afraid to do. You’ll also discover what to do when you’re scared of this process. Easier said than done isn’t it when someone tells you to face your fears but doesn’t give any guidance on how.

Our fears are personal and individual, aren’t they? The same things might excite and inspire someone. But the first step in dealing with fears is

• What is fear is telling you? Listen to it intently. Most times it is only a warning signal.
• Think about the small steps you can take to face this fear. Like everything else, facing fears is also a habit. Remember – we first make our habits and then our habits make us. Small steps can go a long way in facing your fears.
• Be very specific about what scares you about the fear. Break down into smaller activities to understand what exactly scares you. You’ll discover that there are parts of it which will excite and motivate you.
• In this screened list of scary things – is there something tiny that you can do to get better at facing these fears?

The answer to what to do when you’re scared is in doing small things to get better at handling fears. It is a wise counsel – always do what you’re afraid to do – only because it trains and gets you stronger to face bigger challenges.

You can’t go out there and face the heavyweight boxing champion in your first match, but you can get better by reading about boxing, learning and then training. You might still not fight the boxing champ, but will get some control over these fears. The same things which worry you will reduce their impact as you get better.

It is a wise counsel that I once heard being given to a young person – always do what you’re afraid to do

Ralph Waldo Emerson