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Fear is your friend

We're generally taught that fear is something to be, well, feared. That we should avoid it at all costs. But what if fear was something that instead of avoiding, we should be seeking out?

Why is it that whenever we're faced with a new situation, a change, or a challenge that familiar feeling of fear creeps up on us? Whether its switching careers, going back to study, or starting your own business, we often get butterflies in the stomach when we think about making a change.

We're generally taught that fear is something to be, well, feared. That we should avoid it at all costs. But what if fear was something that instead of avoiding, we should be seeking out?

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself

The reality is that anything challenging involves fear. Anything that helps you grow and develop, takes you out of your comfort zone, or is new or unfamiliar will involve some level of fear.

It's completely normal to feel nervous about going back to study or starting a new career. However in order to move past fear we need to retrain our brain to associate those nervous butterflies with opportunities for growth and development. So instead of being fearful, we feel anticipation for what's to come. Instead of avoiding the fear, we must learn how to embrace it.

Feel the fear and do it anyway

The key lesson to learn when dealing with fear is that it's not going anywhere. Most of us talk about overcoming our fears, but that's the wrong way to think about it. There is nothing to 'overcome'. The only way to move past fear is to take action, and do the thing that you're fearful of.

What trips us up is that most of us wait until we feel brave or confident enough until we take action. But the only way to get confidence is to do the thing we're fearful of. And the only way to be brave is to take action, even though we're afraid.

If you're nervous about going back to study there's nothing you can do to make that fear go away, except to take action. Once you have completed your first week you'll start to feel more comfortable. After a few months you'll begin to feel more confident. And once you have finished your studies and the fear is gone, you'll wonder why you ever put it off for so long in the first place. The fear isn't going anywhere. The only way to move past it is to feel the fear and do it anyway!

Everything you want is on the other side

Imagine what would be possible if you were free from fear. More importantly, what wouldn't be possible?

Would you take the leap, put yourself first, and follow your passion? Would you decide to focus on what's most important in your life? Would you start living the life you'd always dreamed?

If you're ready to face your fear and make change happen today, TAFE Queensland has a course to help you get there.