Leading in such ever changing, uncertain times can be confusing and frustrating but you don't have to be afraid!
Leading in such ever-changing, uncertain times can be confusing, frustrating, and if we are not careful we can lose our confidence. I have spoken with Pastors and leaders who have felt like they are about to throw in the towel. DON’T DO IT! They have lost their passion, their drive, and vision. If you’re not actively pursuing your vision, fear is likely to blame. What will people say if we open or don’t open? What happens if someone tests positive? Fear can stop you from taking the actions necessary to achieve success.
Some people are experts at plowing through fears, while others could use a few tips. You’d be shocked by how much your life would change if you could just increase your courage by 10%! That’s all it takes.
Courage creates action, which boosts your courage even higher.
Follow these strategies to increase your courage and accomplish more:
1. Ask yourself, what is God doing? In times like this it is much easier to see the negative and lose sight that God is still in-control. I love the way that the Message translation writes Proverbs 29:18 “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.” When fear tries to creep in we need to seek for the Lords direction.
2. Visualize success. Fear comes from imagining the worst, so one solution is to imagine a positive outcome. It’s important to make the visualization as real as possible. Use all of your senses to create a realistic scene. Imagine how you’ll feel when you’re successful.
3. Imagine your child is watching you. It’s easy to take the easy way out when you’re alone. Have you ever noticed that the presence of an audience can make you a little bolder? No one wants to lose face in front of their peers.
4. Call on your inner superhero. I am sure as a child you played superhero’s with your friends. Before heading into an important meeting, walking on stage or maybe even before you head into the office, strike up your best Superman pose for about 30 seconds. Breathe deeply. Stand up straight. Look straight ahead and head into that important moment…you got this!
5. Ask yourself what a brave person would do. Ask yourself what a brave person would do and choose that course of action. Think of someone you know that’s brave and contemplate how they would handle the situation you’re in. If you know someone who is courageous, give them a call or text and ask them what they would do if they were you.
6. Imagine you only have a week left to live. If you knew you were done in a week, you wouldn’t be afraid of anything. You’d have a great perspective on life, and nothing could bother you. If you’re going to die soon, would you care what some stranger thought of you or your failure? Of course not.
7. Think about how you will if you fail to act. Instead of thinking about failure, think about the consequences of never trying. Regret is a painful pill to swallow. Give yourself the chance to be successful. The last thing anyone wants is to spend the latter part of life wondering “what if?” Instead of thinking about what it is does bad, think about what if it is works?
8. Do it afraid. For a lot of us, we will never take away fear 100%, but do it anyway. I think that for most if not everyone there is still a bit a fear that creeps in before preaching, leading change, casting vision. If you wait for even ounce of fear to leave, you will not step out and lead. Go ahead and jump and watch God do what only He can do.
Is fear limiting your choices in life? What would you do if you were free of fear? Fortunately, you don’t have to eliminate your fear by 100% to see a drastic change in your life. It just takes a small boost in courage to get the ball rolling.
When you’re faced with fear, try using one of these techniques and notice what happens. Take action and learn a new way of approaching the world - without fear!