#EveryLittleActionCounts Week 57: Overcome your fears!
Fear is an ever-present yet often hidden companion in academic life and beyond – fear of rejection, fear of not being good enough, fear of not being worthy, fear of not belonging. It can silence our voices and create tensions when interacting with others and prevent us from taking healthy and creative risks. Overcoming fear is not about becoming fearless or reckless but about building courage through small intentional acts. When we name our fears by talking about them and take gentle steps to act, we create more compassionate and braver professional and personal spaces for ourselves and others.
“The fears we don’t face become our limits.” – Robin Sharma
Here are three tips that support you in overcoming your fears:
Name your fear! – Take 5 minutes and write down one fear you are experiencing (e.g. rejection, fear of asking questions, fear of not belonging). By naming fear you expose it – transforming it from a threat into a clear emotion you can work with.
Take a small risk! Identify an opportunity to act despite fear – such as asking a question, offering to host or chair a session, or submitting an idea for feedback. By repeatedly being courageous you can learn to overcome discomfort and reframe fear as a driver of growth.
Normalise fear in conversation! – Set yourself a goal that in your next conversation with someone you share one thing you have felt fearful or nervous about. Speaking openly about fear can help dismantle boundaries, and misunderstandings and thus create safer spaces for interaction.
We would be very happy to hear about your strategies for overcoming fear in academia!
Anne-Wil Harzing & Christa Sathish