Fear can be a healthy thing; it keeps us safe in big ways (“Nah, I better not try to pass that guy; he’s driving too erratically!) and small. But fear can also be paralyzing, preventing us from taking risks and stretching ourselves, which is key to staying engaged and inspired about life.
One of my own greatest fears used to be swimming in open water. I saw Jaws as a kid, after all, so I didn’t even have to get too close to the water to hear the ominous notes signaling the approach of the shark in my head.
But to compete in triathlons, a longtime dream of mine, I had to bite the bullet, get over my fear of sharks and swim in open water. I managed to conquer that fear through sheer dint of will, and I’ve never been more proud of anything I’ve accomplished. I’ve never felt so liberated, either.
Need more convincing to make a leap of faith? To bolster your courage, remind yourself of this interesting finding: A report in the journal Psychological Science reveals that whether you miss achieving a goal by a little or a lot, you won’t lament going after it nearly as much as you think you will.
In other words, psych yourself up and take that leap. You just may soar. And even if you don’t, you definitely won’t be left with a pile of regrets. Here’s a first step: SELF’s Reach Your Goal one-month body makeover.
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