we live in uncertain times and disturbing headlines seem to be the rule rather than the exception.

So, it is not surprising that many feel overwhelmed, fearful and unable to make decisions. However, what is most important at the moment is to stay level headed and to make decisions based on information not on fear.

For some, the present situation is so worrying and confusing that fear prevents them from making any decision at all-trust me this is the worst you can do at the moment.

An evolutionary response

When we encounter a threat to our emotional or physical well-being, it triggers a physiological fight-flight-or-freeze response designed for survival. Without the fear response, you’d leave yourself wide open to danger.

There is strong evidence, that there is a direct correlation between the intensity of our fear and the degree of our fascination. Only think about what really gets your attention? The news someone has died of heart disease or that someone has been murdered? Admit it, you rather watch a TV -duel with two strong opposing politicians than two who agree on everything.

If you really think about it fear often comes packaged with enthrallment. We don’t look away from accidents or guns; we give them our attention. This tendency has obvious evolutionary advantages—it’s safer to keep deadly objects front-of-mind than to ignore them.

 Yet in the modern world, our bodies respond with fear to many situations in which we face no physical threat. Fear is triggered by a known outside event – a loud noise, disturbing news, looking over the edge of a high place, or standing in front of a crowd.

Rule#1: Learn more about your Fears

Make a list of the things you need or want to do, and the fear that’s keeping you from doing it.  Making this list is an easy task. Just pay attention to when you use the word “but” when you talk about something you would like to do.

For example: “I want to have a 1:1 talk with our wealth manager, to discuss my personal financial situation, but I fear this would upset my husband. “I feel it is time to make some changes in my portfolio, but my advisor would never take me seriously“. ” I would love to meet other female wealth owners, but they would probably not accept me because I have too little financial literacy”.

Identifying your fears is the first step to being level-headed when making decisions.

Rule#2: Reframe your fears to your advantage

Analyze your fear and think about the positive effect overcoming that fear would make on yourself and others. Identify whether or not you’re creating a compelling goal. If you accomplish the task ahead, will you feel fulfilled? Conversely, if you don’t accomplish this, will you be lost?

Dig deeper into your goal. What is your ideal outcome? Is it financial growth – more money in the bank? Maybe you want the financial independence to travel anytime, anywhere? Consider what your life will look like if you don’t achieve this outcome and compare it to what your life will look like if you do. Once you feel that your goal is essential, the fear of not trying at all eclipses the fear of failure – that’s when you’ll be inspired to act.

You will see the angry husband as a small price to pay for the peace of mind you have after you have talked to your wealth manager.

Or, think about the positive feeling you will have after you have made the alterations to your portfolio, and imagine how your advisor’s opinion of you might have changed for the positive because of your action.

Reframing your fears usually increases the motivation to face that fear. Focussing on the positive effect of your scary action will tip your feeling from avoidance to attraction and your fear becomes smaller.

Your inner compass will say “Go! It is time to act”.

Rule#3: Curl up with your fear

There are times for action and times for reflection. Acting too quickly to overcome your fear can lead to behaviours that do more harm than good. Like reaching for a drink, indulging in comfort food or even repressing the feeling entirely.

Next time you feel fearful, try something new: Do nothing. Sit with your fear for a few minutes. Think about it. What is the root cause? What is the story you tell yourself about why you can’t overcome this fear? This isn’t to say you shouldn’t take action. A moment of reflection can have a great effect on overcoming fear in a way that is productive, deliberate and effective.

Rule#4: Plan your steps

Fear often stops us from acting, we tend to fall into the approach-avoidance trap. Oftentimes the process of overcoming fear becomes stymied by uninspiring or elusive goals we set for ourselves. Take a deep breath and begin outlining a step-by-step plan to achieve your scary objective.

Break down every challenge into manageable chunks. Stay focused on the worthy goal so you feel you can’t turn back. As you take each step, be peripherally aware of dangers, but glue your attention to the path between them. Celebrate each milestone you deserve and it will keep up your motivation.

Rule#5: Surround yourself with success

People who are truly focused on overcoming fear and achieving their dreams surround themselves with others who have the same mindset. These are people who you not only look up to but who will push you to achieve your goals. To overcome fear, you need to raise your standards – and allow others to hold you accountable.

The idea is that, in essence, you become the people you surround yourself with. Promise, this never fails to work- in its positive as much as its negative way.

Rule#6: Adopt a growth mind-set

People who are afraid, tend to stay in one place and in the same situation all their life.

People with a set mindset ask too many “what if” questions. What if I make a mistake? What if I fail? Over time this leads to no progress at all, this manifests a belief of being incapable and increasing fear holds them back further. One of the most powerful tips to overcome fear and anxiety is to adopt a growth mindset. It’s not about achieving your goals and being perfect every step of the way. No one is ever perfect all the time, so stop striving for that. It’s about getting comfortable with what you don’t know and continuing anyway – this is the foundation of a growth mindset.

Rule#7: Use your pain

No one likes pain. Most of us go to great lengths to avoid it. But pain is a profound teacher. If you accept that your life and your efforts to achieve your goals will be painful at times, painful experiences become opportunities for growth. When you let go of pain as a threat to your survival, it loses its power and becomes another tool for overcoming fear. Everyone experiences hardships in life. It doesn’t matter whether your setbacks are personal or professional – what matters are the lessons you take from those experiences and how you apply them to your future. Instead of letting pain and fear dictate your decisions, actively choose to learn from those painful moments to be in control of your own life.

Rule#8: Accept failure

The number one fear people have when it comes to accomplishing their goals is that they’ll fail. But like pain, failure can teach us. In fact, failure is often a better teacher than success. If you accept from the onset that failure is an inevitable part of success, you’ll be less afraid of it. Failure can provide you with valuable learning experiences that will positively impact your future strategies.

Everyone fails. Successful business owners. World leaders. Prominent chefs. Artists and scientists and doctors. Our society shies away from talking about failure, and instead celebrates successes; this creates the false impression that to be truly successful you must never fail.

Part of overcoming fear is recognizing that everyone on the planet – including those you know and admire – has encountered a failure on their path to greatness. The quicker you realize your fear of failure is preventing you from making the decision to accomplish your dreams, the sooner you’ll be able to accept the possibility of failing and move on.

Rule#8: Never play with self-destruction

Seeking out what captivates and cows you, pushing beyond your comfort zone, making sure you’re serving a noble purpose—you’ll live a self-determined life to the fullest. You may even save the world and just think how thrilling that would be. 

Because fear and fascination are so intermingled, many people who follow their thrill-seeking instincts end up unconsciously flirting with disaster. They snort drugs made of toilet cleanser, they break laws, and they date people who have that “dangerous vibe.”

These are the very same people who consider buying and selling shares as a game, invest in unsustainable business ideas, or fall for brokers who “sell” dubious investments.

But be aware toxicity isn’t the way to feel more alive; it’s a gamble that you’ll become more dead. 

So you always need to ask yourself: Is this desire destructive? Will it ruin life, health, or property? Write the question and the answer down – if your answer is yes, think about something else you wish to do. In such cases, your fear is justified!

Special Supplement

How you respond to fear is what sets you apart from the rest of the crowd

Tim Robbins