OVERCOMING THE SPIRIT OF FEAR
OVERCOMING
THE SPIRIT OF FEAR
“It is not a bad thing to fear but it
becomes bad when fear becomes a spirit and dwells in you”
By: Ojo Matthew Oluwasegun.
What is fear?
Phobia
also means fear. Oxford dictionary
defines fear as unpleasant sensation caused by nearness of danger or pain
(noun).
Fear
can likely be related to spirit because it overwhelms one and make one to lose
total control at that very moment. It can also be related to spirit in the
sense that it is carried out swiftly and mysteriously.
It
is not a bad thing to be phobia but it goes wrong when it becomes part and
parcel of an individual.
Types of fear
Social phobias
Social phobias are the most common type of fear.
They are considered an anxiety disorder and include
excessive self-consciousness in social situations.
Some people can fear being judged so much they avoid
specific situations, like eating in front of others.
Agoraphobia: fear of open spaces
While it is generally understood to be a fear of
open spaces, agoraphobia is a much more complex fear.
It is a serious anxiety disorder than can trap
people in their homes or make leading a normal life next to impossible.
Some people with agoraphobia avoid specific places
or venues.
Acrophobia: fear of heights
Some people fear heights so badly the escalators at
the local shopping centre give them vertigo.
Vertigo is different to the phobia and is the sense
of dizziness people can develop.
For others a cliff-top lookout or a tall building
makes their head spin.
Pteromerhanophobia: fear of
flying
With all the media coverage of air disasters it is
understandable many fear being in a plane crash and hence have a fear of
flying.
But with more than 100,000 commercial flights around
the world each day, the chances of being struck by lightning are higher than
dying in a plane crash.
Claustrophobia: fear of enclosed
spaces
Sometimes the fear of flying is actually more
closely linked to a fear of enclosed spaces.
People with this fear say they feel like the walls
are closing on them.
Some theories suggest there is a genetic link to
specific phobias as a kind of dormant survival mechanism.
Entomophobia: fear of insects
They are small, they crawl and they often bite, so
it is understandable why many people do not like spiders and insects.
But they are a crucial link in the food chain and we
cannot live without them.
Ophidiophobia: fear of snakes
Indiana Jones famously quipped "I hate
snakes", and he is not alone.
A fear of all things long and venomous is common to
many.
The great thing about snakes is that if you leave
them alone they will leave you alone.
Cynophobia: fear of dogs
A fear of dogs is a common phobia, particularly
among children and door-to-door sales agents.
The fear can be exacerbated by a negative experience
with an animal and can be one of the most difficult phobias to conquer given
canines can sense people's fear.
Astraphobia: fear of storms
It is understandable why the booming sound of
thunder can send people's hearts racing and a fear of storms is common.
Realistically it is lightning that can hurt people,
but the chance of that happening is remote.
Trypanophobia: fear of needles
Having a sharp piece of metal stuck in your arm is
always an unpleasant thought and many people develop a strong aversion to
needles.
But needles are typically worth the pain with them
either delivering vaccinations, delivering blood donations or helping to
investigate a potential illness — even creating a tattoo.
Hydrophobia: fear of water.
Reasons why people fear and remedy for each
There are several reasons why an
individual fear but we will be able to list some of the reasons we can provide
you with. The reasons why people fear are as listed below.
1.
Working alone – We usually work in collegiate work environments where we
have work friends, someone to chat about the weekend, the game, personal
issues, the new hair colour, the boss, the economy. We are social creatures for
millions of years and have always thrived in little communities – so the idea
of a lonely start up can feel too isolating for many. Remedy – Co-working
spaces are now freely available in almost every town and city where you can
share low cost office facilities and ideas with like-minded business start-ups.
2.
Why would anyone listen to me? – While we may have a new
business idea, we tend to be strongly influenced by ‘group think’. We doubt if
what we have to say is truly different or worth listening to. It requires a
level of self-worth and single-mindedness to say what you believe and to stand
out from the crowd. Remedy – Once upon a time only the influential in society, like
doctors, solicitors and clerics, had a voice. Now, due to the growth of social
media, information has become democratized and everyone has the opportunity to
influence. Join a LinkedIn group of you’re choosing, start your own blog and
create a dent in the universe and you will create followers who want to listen
to what you have to say.
3.
I need a certain standard of living – You have worked
long and hard to get to this level of income and fear putting your family under
pressure should you fail and run out of money. Remedy – You do need a
trusted personal financial advisor to know exactly what you and your
spouse/partners appetite is to financial risk. There are no guarantees with a
start-up, so for anyone starting up a new business it is important to have a
financial plan to give you peace of mind on how much you really do need – you
could be surprised.
4.
Leaving the uncomfortable comfort zone – There is
something about the comfort zone that will always say “it is just not worth the
effort”. Even though it may be quite uncomfortable where you work and what you
do, when we talk about moving away from it, we become scared and often freeze. Remedy – If you are
unhappy in what you do now, it is extremely unlikely to improve anytime soon.
Make a decision to move toward goals that motivate you. Yes, it will take you
out of your comfort zone and it may take longer than you expected, but it will move
you in the right direction rather than plateauing in a role that is not your
future.
5.
I don’t know about financial accounts for running a business – When we work for a
company our salary is paid into our account each month, so having to look after
our own finances in business is all new. Remedy – We have spoken
about having a personal financial advisor but you also need the support of a
good accountant. The great ones will have supported many other people just like
you so choose wisely and make sure you get the right fit.
6.
I’m over 50 and too old for a start-up – Over 50’s
sometimes fear that they are too old to start a new business venture and worry
that they are not tech-savvy enough for the future world of work. Remedy– It is interesting to
see that a study funded by the Kauffman Foundation surveyed 500 successful high
growth founders. Against all stereotypes, it was found that twice as many
successful entrepreneurs are more than 50 as fewer than 25. So life experience is
more valuable than you might at first think.
7.
What if it doesn’t succeed – There is always the fear
of it not working out and everyone knowing. At work it’s easier to cover up a
mistake as it’s not out there for everyone to see. We’re negatively biased and
our ancestors survived attack with one priority – Safety First! When faced with
a difficult choice, we will often choose the safer option. Remedy – Once you have
made the decision to start your new venture, there can be no turning back. You
have to commit to be successful in life, business or sport. With commitment
comes the power of focus and intensity required to get you closer to your
goals. Commitment is easier when you have a “why” that comes from within.
People who don’t succeed in business usually have a plan B should things not
work out so they don’t fully commit. In business, it’s got to be all or
nothing, you have to take the leap of faith and back yourself no matter what.
8.
It will take too long to get it off the ground – It’s true, it
can take a long time to get a start-up off the ground and this can deter people
from committing to a new venture. Remedy – Start-ups
require patience and perseverance. You need to be in it for the long haul. It
is a known fact that many new start-up enterprises give up too early. This is
why diets don’t work long term, the novelty wears off and it is just easier to
go back to what we know. The bigger win is succeeding and becoming your own
boss, if this is what you really wanted in the first place, because nothing else
will ever fully satisfy you.
9.
My spouse or partner won’t let me – This is a very
common barrier we come across especially when people over 50’s get access to a
healthy severance package that they want to direct into a new start-up
idea. Remedy – While it important to have the support of your family,
it is often the case that you have to back your own gut instinct. You are an
expert on you; surround yourself with at least five people who have experience
in starting up a new business. The people you choose to surround yourself with
will be critical, especially during a challenging time, as they will act as
your personal boardroom. You may need to form a new network because you are now
in a new business and not an employee anymore.
By: OJO MATTHEW OLUWASEGUN.
If any of the above 09
reasons have held you back from setting up your own enterprise, I hope the
ensuing advice has given you the confidence to continue on your journey. But
pay attention!
NICE POST
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