S02 Ep77 FEAR?

Fear can be a positive force, motivating us to take immediate action. But fear also has the capacity to limit our lives through concerns about unjustified implications.

Does fear help or hinder you? Here are four ways to think about FEAR from Anne Lamott.

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Welcome to Ever Better Today: the daily podcast for creating your optimal business, career, or overall life in ten minutes or less. I’m Lisa Conners Vogt, Executive and Leadership Coach and founder of Ever Better Coaching and Consulting. Let’s jump in!

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Anne Lamott is the author of Bird by Bird, a book about the writing process. Listen to Anne on the Tim Ferris Podcast, episode 522, Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer.

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Four interpretations of FEAR:

#1 False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR)

You might look at a situation and conjure up all kinds of negative interpretations without true evidence that any of your scenarios are correct. However, at the moment, they seem real to you. This is false evidence appearing real (FEAR) 

Example: You send an email to your CEO and don’t get a quick response. You start thinking of all the reasons the CEO is made at you, about how you messed up, and when and where you’re going to be fired. This is false evidence that appears real. Given more time and communication, you may find that you’re doing a great job and the CEO was just busy.

#2 Frantic Effort to Appear Recovered (FEAR)

If you’re on the path to recovery from addiction, you may want others around you to perceive that you are recovered. This can truly be damaging because you're not asking for the help you need.

#3 Future Events Already Ruined (FEAR)

Have you ever created ideas in your mind about unpleasant interactions or events that will happen if you attend a party, interview for a job, move to another city, or do something outside of your comfort zone?

What you’re doing is ruining a future event that might change your life for the better! This is future events already ruined (FEAR).

#4 Fear Expressed Allows Relief (FEAR)

This is what we do in coaching: We let people express their fears. Once you start talking about those FEARs, it can help you get relief because you're talking it through. And sometimes that's all it takes!

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