We all feel it—that gnawing, gut-churning fear that shows up just when we’re about to take a leap. Whether it’s launching a new project, pitching an idea, or stepping into unfamiliar territory, anxiety sneaks in and whispers, What if you fail?
The truth? Anxiety isn’t a sign to stop; it’s proof that you’re onto something meaningful.
Your Lizard Brain Wants to Keep You Safe (And That’s the Problem)
Deep inside our brains sits the Reptilian Brain—the ancient, involuntary system designed to keep us alive. It’s why you instinctively jump out of the way of an oncoming car without thinking. It’s fast, automatic, and essential for survival.
But here’s the catch: the same system that saves us from danger is the one that paralyzes us in the face of change. It sees risk in everything that requires vulnerability—starting a business, sharing your work, or trying something new. Your brain’s job is to keep you safe, not to help you grow.
If you’re waiting for fear to disappear before you take action, you’re going to be waiting forever.
The Work You’ve Chosen Demands Courage
Think about it: if you wanted a job with no fear, you could have chosen one. Some careers thrive on predictability—where following procedures and minimizing risk are the keys to success. But creative work, entrepreneurial pursuits, and anything that demands originality? They come with built-in resistance.
You signed up for this. The work you’ve chosen doesn’t just require skill; it requires the ability to dance with fear and do the work anyway.
Anxiety is Experiencing Failure in Advance
One of the most profound truths about anxiety is this: it’s the act of experiencing failure before it even happens. Your brain tells vivid stories about all the ways things could go wrong, and after a while, those stories feel real. But here’s what’s crucial to remember:
- Worry is not preparation. Overthinking doesn’t make you better at your work; it just makes you slower to start.
- Fear is not a signal to stop. It’s a reminder that what you’re doing matters.
- Confidence doesn’t come first. Action precedes confidence, not the other way around.
Why Do We Fear Change?
If you trace it back far enough, fear of change is about survival. Thousands of years ago, fitting in and avoiding risk meant survival. Making a wrong move—offending the tribe leader, eating the wrong thing, or wandering too far—could mean death.
Today, the stakes aren’t life or death. But our biology hasn’t caught up to the modern world. It still reacts as if a bad presentation or a failed project means exile.
But guess what? We’re not living on the savanna anymore. The fear of failure won’t kill you. And in a world filled with new opportunities, staying still is often riskier than moving forward.
How Culture Shapes Our Relationship with Fear
Culture plays a huge role in how we perceive risk. In some parts of the world, people have never bought something they’ve never tried before—the idea of doing so carries too much uncertainty. In contrast, Western cultures encourage experimentation, but even here, fear still lurks in the background.
The good news? Cultural evolution is catching up. Just a hundred years ago, telling your family you wanted to work for yourself would have been unthinkable. Today, entrepreneurship and creativity are celebrated in many circles, and taking risks is encouraged.
So, What’s the Answer?
If anxiety and fear are hardwired into us, how do we move forward? Here’s the mindset shift you need:
- Expect fear and show up anyway. Fear is not a red light; it’s a green light that you’re headed in the right direction.
- Stop waiting to feel ready. Ready is a myth. You move forward by starting, not by waiting.
- Redefine failure. Instead of seeing it as an end, see it as a step in the process.
- Take smaller risks daily. The more you engage with discomfort, the more normal it becomes.
You’re Meant to Do This Work
In a world that’s shifting away from predictable jobs and into creative, self-driven careers, fear and anxiety are part of the package. But remember: the work you’re meant to do exists on the other side of fear, not in the absence of it.
So take the leap. Send the pitch. Launch the project. Fear isn’t going anywhere—but neither are you.
What’s one thing you’ve been putting off because of fear? Do it today.
