As you start working on your goals and creating your best life, it’s natural that fears are going to surface from time-to-time. That’s a part of life.

No one is fearless. At least I have never personally met anyone who fell into that category. I was told by one of my mentors that the difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is simply that successful people act in spite of their fears. In graduate school, they would say, “The way you relate to the issue is the issue.”

So, how does one overcome fear?

Face it
Embrace & Explore it
Accept it
Respond to it (in a healthy way)

A saying I love is “Fear = False Evidence Appearing Real.” I really believe that’s true. In the moment, the fear can be paralyzing, but once you face it and acknowledge it, if often begins to dissipate. If that’s not the case, you may want to seek support from a friend, loved one, or trained professional (coach, therapist, et cetera). It’s better to get help than live a life of quiet desperation and fear.

When it comes to my fears, I like to dive right into them when possible. To overcome my fear of heights, I went skydiving. When that wasn’t enough, I attended Outward Bound’s Colorado Rockies Wilderness Expedition where I climbed a 14,000 foot peak. To overcome my fear of public speaking, I took a week-long intensive as well as committed to giving a presentation in-front of hundreds of people. When it came to my desire to be a “runner,” I signed up for a marathon.

That being said, my approach does not work for everyone, and I do not encourage people to participate in risky behaviors. You need to decide what’s best for you. I am a firm believer in the “baby-step approach,” and while I dived right into the activities listed above, that is often not possible with all fears, and sometimes a more gradual plan is better.

What are some of your fears? What is one action you can take to overcome them? Who can support you with your efforts? How can you reward yourself when you have moved past your fear? These are some great questions to ask yourself when working to release your fears.

In addition to confronting your fears, I also encourage you to eliminate the words “Would’ve, Could’ve, and Should’ve” from your vocabulary if you are truly committed to being happy. These are words we use to beat ourselves up with.

One thing to always keep in mind when working to overcome your fears and expand your comfort zone is to have compassion for yourself and your process. We all have our own path and our own way of doing things. Acknowledge and celebrate your efforts. You deserve to!

May your day be filled with much happiness, success and prosperity …


Always Dream BIG!

Gabrielle (A.K.A. “Coach Elle”)

Life Is Too BIG To Play small!