I'm a big fan of acronyms. Anything that is quick, helpful and a reminder of where we want to shift our focus is all right with me!
Like FEAR:
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
There may seem to be a threat, but given a closer look, there is no immediate harm to us. Feeling
Excited
And
Ready
How do you know when the “fear” you're feeling really isn't excitement?
Or how about this one:
Fear
Of
Finding
Out
Yes, FOFO is not a real acronym per se. It can be quite silly to say, but it's a feeling that many people have when it comes to:
Taking an honest look at our financial situation
Getting the results of medical tests
Pondering if we should stay in that relationship or let go
Or anything that causes us anxiety and stress for fear of finding out it may be bad news…
But what if the situation isn't bad at all? That all turned out ok? And because we faced a fear, we can move on, past the stress and anxiety of not knowing.
The truth is, there have been many times in our lives where fear may have stopped us or kept us stuck. There is nothing wrong or bad about feeling fear. It’s a normal and natural reaction to the unknown…and we don’t have to let fear rule our world!
Next time you may be feeling a little fearful, I encourage you to:
Be curious: “What if…” questions can be quite helpful.
“What if it turns out better than I thought?”
“What if it’s supposed to be this way?”
“What if there was more to this?”
Take action: Action kicks fears butt every time!
What is the next smallest step you can take?
Even small, baby steps can help you feel on top of the world and move things forward.
Get support: Talk to someone about how you feel or even write it out on paper. Doing either can help alleviate some of the emotions around FOFO and help you identify what’s really going on.
Embrace your fear: When was the last time you had fear about something, but did it anyway?
Getting married, having a kid, starting a business? What has brought fear and you did it anyway? If we waited until the fear was gone, we probably wouldn't have experienced 90% of what we have. Now may be the time to carry your fear and do it anyway!
Fear doesn't have to be the scary thing that stops you from living your best life. You can change its meaning and create your unique acronym...and your unique experience.
As always, however you are feeling today, I want you to know that you are never alone. I encourage you to reach out—if not to me, then to someone! Give me a call or text at 951.523.7959, respond to this email Teresa@restorationshoppe.com, or click here to schedule a chat.
I promise you, I may not always know what to say or do, but I can be a huge heart with ears.
I believe in you,
Teresa