5 Signs Fear is Stunting Your Growth And How to Fix It

5 Signs Fear is Stunting Your Growth And How to Fix It There are things in life that are good to be scared of, like a hot stove or falling on the subway tracks or a neighbor who dresses up like clowns for fun, you guess? There are also things in life that are not good to be scared of, like saying no to a task when youre overwhelmed at work or refusing to hit submit on a application.Despite your best intentions, deep-rooted fears about yourself or the world around you can be a big barrier to living a fulfilling life, complete with real growth potential and genuine expressions of self. How can you know fear is holding you back? These five signs are a good place to start.1. You settle.The first way to know fear is holding you back? Its making you throw in the towel. If youre settling in a job thats just OK, a relationship thats s-lost its spark or a living situation youre not excited about, stop fooling yourself you arent resistant to change, youre scared of it. If fear is keeping you from taking risks and going after what you want, its keeping you from reaching your full potential probably in mora than one sphere of your life.2. You procrastinate.If youre constantly putting off important tasks or projects, you may be suffering from a serious case of fear. Procrastination can be a sign that youre afraid of a host things how you will perform, what others will say about your performance, how it will stack up to expectations, etc. Procrastination keeps you from seizing opportunities and making the most out of your time two things that are necessary to be your best self.3. You say yes way too often.If youre always saying yes, its time to consider if youre afraid to say no. If you are unable to turn down an invitation, a task at work or an extra favor for a loved one when you really need to, your fear of what others think of you or what will happen if you say no is holding you back. Its holding you back from protecting your time, your mental health and your ability to decide whats best for you. Thats no way to reach your highest potential.4. Youre an extreme perfectionist.If you are obsessed with the nitty-gritty of every project you work on, unable to delegate tasks or harshly self-critical of every action you take, it may be a sign that fear is running your life. Extreme perfectionism is an attempt to exert control when being out of control feels terrifying. But if youre unable to cede control over the minutia of everyday life and dedicate your energy to the things that matter, your fear is holding you back.5. You dont voice your opinions.Similar to saying yes too often, refusing to voice your opinions is a sign that fear controls your life. If youre too worried about how others will react to say how you feel, you arent experiencing the world as authentically as you could if you spoke your mind. A scared communicator doesnt receive the interesting conversations, growth opportunities or purposeful interactions that a confident communicator do es.If youve read the points above and totally relate, there are small steps you can take to start curbing your fear and expose yourself to healthy risks. Here are just a few ideas although a licensed counselor or therapist knows more than me1. Focus on what youre good at and what you love about your life.To boost your confidence and begin to take risks, focus on whats going right as the result of your confidence and abilities. Remind yourself of your special skills and talents next time youre worried and delaying a pressure-filled project. Remind yourself of how awesome you are at interpersonal communication next time youre too scared to send a networking invitation. And tell yourself you wouldve never got that apartment you love or that position youre great at if you didnt leave your last one.2. Question your thinking processes.Next time you find yourself thinking about how scary or impossible a task is, ask yourself why you feel that way. Chances are, your worries are pretty base less. If youre worried about saying no next time your friend asks you to watch her daughter, ask yourself why. Shes not going to hate you if youre busy or need some time to yourself. Similarly, if youre worried about sharing your opinion in a meeting, ask yourself if your boss is really going to remember if you say a word wrong or share an opinion she disagrees with. Remind yourself she has so much going on including her own fears.3. Practice mindfulness.Mindfulness practices, like meditation or yoga, can help manage fear by connecting to your body, slowing your heart satz and thinking more calmly.4. Consult your support network.One of the best ways to quell fear is talking through them with a network of people who support you. Talking to people who will remind you of your skills and talents, and encourage you to act on them, can be key to letting go of fear and seizing the opportunities life offers. Next time youre worried about taking a chance, talk to someone who you know has yo ur best interest at heart and ask their opinion. Chances are, they will tell you to go for it and pinpoint the things about you that make them confident it will go well.