Is fear of the unknown holding you back from success or from progressing through a work or life transition as smoothly as possible? Ask yourself these questions. Do I:
• Avoid the truth
• Expect failure and/or rejection
• Feel helpless or paralyzed
• Get embarrassed easily
• Make the unknown seem bigger or more terrifying than it really is
• Procrastinate or fail to take timely action
• Protect myself so I won’t make mistakes
Fear of the unknown takes many shapes and forms. It shows up in relationships, at work, after a loss, when you are facing retirement, and at many more transition points throughout your career and lifetime. Here are several hypothetical situations as examples.
Relationships: One person in an unhealthy relationship or marriage may continue trying for improvement while the partner/spouse chooses to give up or not participate. Fear of the unknown may prolong the relationship. Fear of going it alone, of giving up a predictable lifestyle, and of making a mistake may also lead to poor decision-making.
Work: An employee who has conscientiously worked towards a promotion—even one in a new city—should be confident in his/her abilities instead of giving in to fear of the unknown.
Loss: After a divorce or a partner’s death, the newly-single individual faces fear of the unknown—whom to date, how to date in this age of technology, how to avoid further hurt and loss—and may lose out on new friendships if paralyzed by these fears.
Retirement: Fear of the unknown is a major factor in retirement. Those who read, explore, and plan for retirement before giving up the familiarity and security of work routines, work relationships, and work benefits are much more optimistic about the future. A good place to start is my book Ready To Retire? Successful Retirement Planning To Make The Best Of The Rest Of Your Life (this is NOT an affiliate link).
You can beat fear of the unknown in any transition you face at work or in your personal life.
• Identify your fears
• Look for the truth of the situation
• Expect to succeed based on your previous successes
• Take immediate action, however small the step may be, and repeat as often as necessary
• Be willing to take risks and make mistakes
• Forgive yourself if things don’t go as planned instead of becoming embarrassed
I can also help you with coaching and tools to get you unstuck.