How to be Fearless And Confident; 7 Ways to Take a Risk On Yourself

Fear is a powerful emotion that can feel paralyzing and challenging to move forward. But when you befriend it, you learn more about yourself and realize how truly capable you are. A recent client of mine, Michelle Gillis, taught me the importance of overcoming fear and leaning into your power. We all have the ability to say no to fear, take a risk on ourselves, and receive the magic of stepping outside our comfort zone. But many of us don’t know how to prevent our fears from controlling our lives. Yet, in this article, you’ll learn how to be fearless and confident with a few lessons inspired by Michelle. 

The psychology of fear 

Fear is a natural emotion that we all experience. It alerts us and activates our fight-flight-or-freeze response when physical or emotional danger is near. But sometimes this activation can malfunction, causing us to respond fearfully to the unknown. Indeed, when we step outside our comfort zone, sometimes our fear paralyzes us from taking action. Thankfully, you can overcome your fears and no longer hold yourself back from the life you deserve, as my client Michelle did. 

The inspiration for this article is Michelle Gillis, a recent client and life coach who booked a photoshoot with me and shortly after transformed her life. She’s always wanted to open a business but felt her career as a teacher would provide more stability and comfort. But after she invested in a self-care day at my studio, she felt empowered to continue investing in herself, even if that meant taking a risk. And wow, did she take one! She messaged me about a month after our shoot and said, “I did it! I quit my teaching job to launch my new business, “Beauty Boost Nashville”. See what a photo session with you can birth?!!” OMG, that’s amazing! 

Like you, she felt that fear, but instead of succumbing to it, she decided to befriend it to gain increased inner strength. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can overcome your fear and open a business, change careers, leave an unhealthy relationship, take a trip, or do anything you’ve ever wanted to do but didn’t because of fear. 

7 ways to learn how to be fearless and confident 

1. Fear is a state of mind, not a fact 

First and foremost, fear is a state of mind and not a fact. When we feel fear, sometimes we are responding to an imagined threat or the unknown. FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. For example, how did you feel when preparing for an interview you really wanted? Did you have a rapid heartbeat, feel sweaty palms, or experience shortness of breath? This reaction is your body and mind responding to an imagined threat. You felt worried that you might get rejected and not get the job, so your body activated your fight-flight-or-freeze response. Self-awareness is key. Because when aware, you can shift your mindset, recognize you're not in danger and gain clarity. 

2. Don’t fight internal resistance

Sometimes when we're afraid, we may become paralyzed, retreat, or experience procrastination. Yet every time you succumb to your fear, you fight internal resistance. A part of you doesn’t feel capable or ready to change, so you retreat to your comfort zone. This behavior makes it more difficult to enact change and overcome your fears. So, acknowledge your fear. You can say, “Yes I am scared, but that’s okay”. Accepting it doesn’t mean you give it power. It's the contrary; you begin to chip away its control over your life. 

3. Befriend your fear

Now that you’ve acknowledged your fear, it’s time to befriend your fear. But befriending your fear takes patience and a bit of investigation. For example, when Michelle wanted to change careers, she asked herself, “Why am I truly afraid?” What is my fear response telling me about myself? Use fear as an opportunity to reflect inward and understand what is happening within you. Michelle was afraid of not having a steady paycheck to support her family and not feeling good enough to create a business outside her comfort zone. Whatever the reason, take a moment to ask yourself the cause. The more you understand your fears, the easier it becomes to overcome them. 

4. Take baby steps

Overcoming your fears is not an overnight process. It takes time and a great deal of patience. Even in the case of Michelle, she didn’t quit her career as a teacher and launch her business overnight. She implemented steps, acknowledged her fear, gave herself self-forgiveness, and strengthened her relationship with herself. Therefore, take baby steps. When you accept and befriend your fears, determine how they show up in your life, and take baby steps each day to overcome them. For example, perhaps you’re afraid of changing careers like Michelle was, and if this is the case, begin researching the field you want to switch to and create a plan. One day, after a series of baby steps, you’ll find yourself admiring and celebrating the amount of progress you’ve made. 

5. Reframe your thinking

While fear certainly protects you from real threats, it robs you of taking action and receiving joy from the unknown. Yes, many things happen in life, but many may not. Therefore, reframe your thinking to see the potential of your fear. For example, when Michelle thought of launching her business, she asked herself,  what’s the worst that could happen? For her, the worst-case scenario was still a risk worth taking. Fear will disappear the more you lean into it, acknowledge it, and understand it. It stops when you reframe your thoughts and challenge yourself to stop letting your fears dictate your life. Reframing your thinking is one of the best ways to learn how to be fearless and confident. 

6. Look at the evidence 

Be an investigator of your fears and look at the evidence. Feeling fearful is not a moment to avoid. It's an opportunity to lean in and strengthen your self-awareness. For example, if you’re scared to enroll in a new class at your gym for fear of humiliating yourself or losing your gym membership, ask yourself, “Have I ever felt this way before?” And if you did, investigate whether you survived. If you are reading this, then you have survived 100% of your worst days. When you review your fears from a logical and rational perspective, you slowly disempower your fear-based thoughts. 

7. Connect to the present moment 

Connecting to the present moment involves breathing through the panic rather than fighting it. Fear and anxiety cause rapid and shallow breaths, but if you breathe deeply and longer, you can turn off the fight-flight-or-freeze response and counteract the panic. Connecting to the present moment also turns off your chain of negative and fearful thoughts before they have the power to become a part of your identity. So, let go of what was or what will be, and anchor yourself to the here and now….through your breath. 

Ready to overcome your fears like Michelle?

While fear is an important human emotion that protects you from danger, it can also lead to debilitating feelings that prevent you from taking a risk on yourself. Yet, finding ways to learn how to be fearless and confident puts you in a better position to create the life you deserve. But to take action against our fears, we sometimes need a healthy push from a friend, support system, or opportunity that reminds us of our self-worth. 

Michelle was so close to taking the leap, and her aha-moment was shortly after our photoshoot together. She decided to invest in herself by dedicating an entire day to celebrating the beautiful, powerful, and admiring woman she embodies. At first, she was nervous to let go and tap into her authentic self. But soon after, she began shedding layers of fears and decided to go all in. Capturing this moment that I call “Fearlessly yourself and free” was a moment of pure gratitude. To see someone break out of their shell and recognize their innate beauty was nothing short of magical. 

If you’re ready to overcome your fears and need a day that allows you to be authentically yourself, please schedule a free consultation with me. It’s my honor to be a part of a series of moments where you become fearlessly yourself and free. 

Bonus, an opportunity for you 

I’m very happy to announce that Michelle created a special event called Woman Wonderland Panel with her business, The Beauty Boost Nashville. On Thursday, August 11th, women everywhere will come together for connection, drinks, and dialogue to empower one another and share how they listened to their inner wisdom to level up their lives.

I will be a speaker at this event to share how I, too, changed my life and career. Instead of allowing my fears to dictate my life, I decided to use it as a powerful opportunity to pivot and launch my photography business. It was the best decision I've ever had, and I'm so grateful to teach you about the wisdom I’ve gained through my personal and professional life. 

This event is your chance to let go, overcome your fears, and connect with other women who will provide support and inspiration to help you live the life you deserve. 

Enroll now to save your spot for a life-changing opportunity

Also, if you want to learn more about Michelle’s story and discover how she helps women create an authentic and purposeful life, please visit her LinkedIn!