Did you reach for the ball?

September 4, 2013 Facebook by Mashable |

http://on.mash.to/1aiUCA4

In life, even if you are a go-getter, you wouldn't be first in line to get your face smashed by a baseball. It is clearly a metaphor, however, for the world we live in. How many of us really reach for our goals regardless of the obstacles?

What are your obstacles?

Time, money, partnerships and other resources... or fear? Other challenges are more readily addressed, with a wider range of possibilities, when we get past fear. Be honest about what your fears are and discard those first. Fear of failure, success, dealing with family response, doing it alone, having to collaborate, uncertainty, public speaking - the list can be endless.

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear."

(Franklin D. Roosevelt). Facing the fact that fear will be a life-long companion - overcoming one to learn of another - can be discouraging. It can, if you choose, let it be liberating. Now you know the goal is to work past it, not to eliminate it.

You'd be surprised how quickly you persevere in eliminating the other obstacles once fear's dealt with.

Working past fear

I found a few tips that work, but you should really add a few more that may be unique to you:

Throw away your negative thoughts (Observer, 2013) - literally, write down the real or imagined thoughts that stop you from going after your goals, and then through them away.
Get organized (Connolly, 2009) - when your mind is in disarray, your space often reflects that. Take the time to tidy up and get organized. You'll feel less overwhelmed, more optimistic and the temptation to procrastination, fear's nasty accomplice, recedes.
Make a list - be honest about where you are and what you need to get where you want to go. Daily, do one thing to get closer to your goal. If you do more, great, but one a day is huge.
Speak to yourself - no, it's not for crazy people. It's probably, actually, the secret to staying sane. When you start giving in to fear and negative thoughts, say the opposite truths out loud. I can see your face - just try it!
A support system - surround yourself with people who actually support you. They feed your dream and show you that some mountains are really molehills. They aren't always who you think they should be.
Document your successes - small or large, your mind has no problems dredging up failures, but this helps keep successes top of mind. This is really a great way to stay encouraged.