You want to launch into something new, a new job, a new company, maybe a new investment.  

You don’t quite know what it looks like, only that it is different from where you are now and that feels terrifying!

Maybe you don’t know where to start, it feels too big and therefore impossible. 

When we don't know what lies ahead, our brains fill in the blanks with worst-case scenarios, doubts, and all the reasons to stay put.

 “I might fail”
“What if it is worse than now?”
“At least I know how to manage my current situation”

The fear of the unknown is one of the biggest reasons we stay stuck. Not because we are incapable of change, but because we cannot can’t guarantee success.

Welcome to part two of my three part mini-series on fear. 

This week we unpick the fear of the unknown. When the things we want feel too scary or unachieveable, we decide it’s not for us and make excuses. 

Why the Unknown Feels So Unsafe

As humans, we are wired to seek safety. Certainty equals comfort, whereas uncertainty sets off all kinds of alarm bells in our nervous system.

But most of the time, the fear is not about actual danger, it is about perceived risk.

If we let that fear rule us, we will stay in jobs, relationships, and lifestyles that no longer fit. Even if they make us feel miserable. 

I know this fear from when I stepped away from my MD role and into the world of big corporate, coaching and property. I had no road map, no income guarantee, and no idea if it would all work out. 

What I did know was that I needed to make a change if I wanted something different in my life, and that I needed to take a risk and trust myself to learn and adapt as I go. 

All I started with was a gut feeling that there was something more to my life, more purpose and fulfilment, and to trust in myself.

And honestly? It was scary as hell.

I had recently divorced and had a mortgage to pay and two kids to look after by myself. But staying stuck was scarier. I remember thinking, “what if I am still here in 10 years?”. I couldn’t keep putting it off any longer. 

So when the fear of the unknown is keeping you pinned to the same spot try one or more of the below, and go for it!

5 Ways to soften the fear of the unknown

1. Shift “What if it goes wrong?” to “What if it goes right?”
   Your brain will always predict danger, so flip your inner talk from negative to one of possibility. For me, it was about thinking 10 years in the future - I imagine myself with financial freedom, my own successful businesses, the ability to travel the world with my family and do all the things I couldn’t whilst working for someone else. It gets me excited, and I remind myself of this everyday with my vision board. You should get excited too! This can help overcome your fears.
   
   
2. Gather evidence from your past
   Remember when you tried something new and it worked out, or you handled it even when it didn’t? Don’t kid yourself, you are a smart cookie, you can adapt and figure your way out of pretty much anything. You wouldn’t be reading this if you couldn’t. So trust yourself to do it again. Trust your ability to learn, adapt, find the help you may need and just go for it.
   
   
3. Start before you are ready
   You do not need a 10-year plan. You just need a first step. When I started property investing I had no idea what to do or where to start, so I decided my first step was to invest in some training. Why? Because I knew I had to start somewhere and it was logical, I would figure the rest out later. At first I wasted a lot of money on the wrong mentor, but through that I realised that her strategy wouldn’t work for me - I learned and moved onto the next step, a different training programme (not strategy specific but emmersing myself with likeminded and experienced people). After the 12 months of training, I knew exactly what I wanted in that aspect of my life, and now have the multi-year plan! You’ve just got to start, you will never feel 100% ready.
   
   
4. Create mini-experiments
   This one I love - trying something does not mean committing forever. There are many ways you can test and learn if something is right for you which will help to reduce your fear of the unknown. One of my favourites is to voluteer, whatever it is you are keen to understand - try it out for a few hours, days or maybe more. When I was exploring if I wanted a move into the charity sector, I committed to becoming a trustee and have learned so much about myself and what I do and do not want. What are you curious about? Who can you ask to shadow, volunteer or help support for a period of time? Be honest with your reasons, and you will be surprised how generous people are with their time.
   
   
5. Find someone who has done it
   A mentor, a peer, a coach, someone local, someone famous. Whoever it is for you, let their story remind you that change is possible. There are many podcasts out there too, with people who have done it all. My guiding star has created an extremely succesful online business over the past 15 years. She is not shy in sharing her highs and lows through her podcast, and I tell myself that if she can do it, so can I. The same goes for you. If someone else can figure out a way through, overcoming their fears - you can too.
   
   

Ready to Take the First Step?

The unknown will always be uncomfortable. But it does not need to be paralysing, in fact, the energy it creates can actually help to motivate you.

One of my notes behind my computer screen is ‘progress over perfection’, it reminds me that I can make progress - small or big - every day towards my goals even if I don’t know every step of the way. 

And I promise you, what is waiting for you on the other side is worth it.

If you need help deciding what comes next, try my free quiz to identify the best resource for you right now. It takes less than 60 seconds, and could be the next logical step you are looking for. 

Don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back from the life you have always wanted. 

Always with love,
Elsa x