We are told to “Do the things you dream of, what your heart desires, and don’t be put off by other’s opinions if you really want to do something”

Is there something you’ve dreamed of doing but you haven’t made that all important first step yet?

What’s stopping you?

From working with hundreds of business owners over the years, one of the things that sometimes rears it’s head when I ask them what’s stopping them, is fear.

Sometimes fear of success, or fear and worrying that it won’t work out.

We need to kick fear to the curb, so we can get on with doing more of the things we really want to do!

Fear is actually something we learn.  We are only born with two fears and that’s the fear of falling and loud noises. Surprisingly!  All the others fears are learned.  I was quite shocked when I learned that fact.  But it’s a good fact to remember!

It means, if you have learned to fear, you can un-learn your fears.  

Aswell as helping business owners to get over the fear of ‘selling‘, I have helped people to get over the fear of flying so they can enjoy summer holidays overseas again; an interior designer to get over her fear of dogs, so she can work in many more houses. And I’ve had to deal with many fears myself, including my fear of driving as I wrote about a while ago here. 

When we feel fear, we have usually manifested the fear in our minds first.  

Even by just thinking about our fears, or worries, when we are safely sitting on our sofa at home, we can experience physical reactions, like rapid heart beat, dry mouth, shaking and sweating, as if we are doing it.   Which isn’t very helpful at all is it?!

But… we can change this.

Remember we feel our thinking.  So…

Change what you think,  and you  can change how you feel. 

Create a different picture.

Our brains don’t know what’s a real or imagined experience.   Which hinders us in many ways if we’re always thinking the worst, worrying about what hasn’t even happened,  or being harsh on ourselves.

Stop it!

Flip it and Feel Good

If our brains don’t know if it’s a real or imagined experience,  it can be very helpful to us instead.

For example, it means we can practise the art of presenting from our desks.  Of course you need good content, but it’s usually thinking about presenting that puts most people off.

So, Reframe.

Build your confidence by thinking it will work out well, in your mind, see it all working out well.

Next time you have a business meeting or a tricky call to make, or you’re presenting on stage, in your mind, run through it first, see yourself doing it and imagine it all working out well.

Boost your self-belief and your presentation skills.

Train your brain before you perform. 

Try it!  Take time to practise.  It’s a brilliant visualisation technique that I showed one of my clients with last week while she was preparing to give a talk to over a thousand people.  With her content written and rehearsed, she then visually practised seeing herself on stage, seeing herself enjoying it, being confident, and everyone clapping at the end!  She told me she had forgotten about her nerves and she loved doing her talk, finding the visualisation technique very empowering, and relaxing.  Within 24 hours of her talk, she had booked in an extra 8 private clients. #result

Just as marathon runners mentally prepare themselves to run through the ‘wall’ they imagine and picture themselves running the course with strength, stamina and controlled breathing, and see themselves running past the finishing line, cheering.

Build new neural pathways, and when the time comes to do the thing you dream of, your brain will know exactly what you want to do, and help you get there.

When I was younger and learning to play the guitar, my teacher taught us to visualise scales and the chord patterns, over and over again, which I did as I was going to sleep at night.  I was always amazed in the morning, when I picked up my guitar, that I could play the song much easier.

My brain knew where my fingers wanted to go!

So, today I ask you, What do you want to see yourself doing, that you’re not doing yet?

Picture it and Imagine it all working out well.  

To your success and happiness, and cram in as much fun as possible!

See you soon,

Jo James xx

P.S.  Do get in touch with me if you have any fears you want to say goodbye to? Contact me today and let’s have a chat about how I can help you achieve your dreams. Let’s #makeithappen