It happened again- you froze like a deer in headlights and missed another opportunity. Whether it be a job opening, a romantic connection, or pursuing a goal you held yourself back. All for what, does the fear of failure outweigh that of regret? You are your own harshest critic and even if you are a perfect fit it’s easy to convince yourself into believing otherwise.
If you tell yourself something enough your mind accepts it as true. Every thought that you aren’t qualified or good enough becomes your reality, and it seems better to avoid rejection rather than ever trying. Overcoming this freeze is more than changing your mindset, it’s about taking action. It is not selfish to go after what you want, learn to break the cycle and don’t let another chance pass you by.
A Mental Trap
Freezing when faced with a decision usually stems from the fear of failure. All of the what-ifs the mind creates every possibility imaginable. These more often than not focus on the negatives of all that can go wrong rather than the possibilities. This makes inaction that much easier instead of having faith in your capabilities.
The voice in your head telling you that you do not deserve something or are not good enough can drown out any confidence in your abilities. Challenge these thoughts by remembering past successes where you trusted in yourself and it all worked out. Even old failures are proof that the mind creates an exaggerated negative outcome. In these moments where you don’t succeed, you still learn from them and use them as growth for the next chance.
Taking The First Step
The mind is only a stepping stone; you must use your thoughts to act. Visualize yourself succeeding, imagine how it will make you feel, and silence any other thoughts. Overthinking can be your worst enemy, but remember you can not control everything. Instead, focus on what you can. How much effort you put in and your approach can make all the difference. Put your energy into what will push you closer instead of halting your progress.
You don’t have to do it alone. Having a support system with whom to share your aspirations and ideas can help encourage you to move forward. It can be hard to control and rationalize everything on your own so have others to lean on that will keep you calm and clear-headed.
The outcome might not always be what you want, but everytime you overcome that urge to freeze you build momentum. It’s easy to grow comfortable with what you currently have just because it’s familiar, but those aspirations and dreams you have are closer than you think. Quiet your doubts and go after them, the only thing holding you back is yourself.
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