When is the last time you tried something new?  Maybe tried learning a new language, cooking exotic recipes, started a new fitness class or even played a new game with your kids?  When was the last time you had to leave your comfort zone?

If you recall, it probably made you uneasy, uncertain, fearful, frustrated or even maybe a little insecure depending on what you were doing!  How far out of your comfort zone did you allow yourself to go?  The further away you got, the more uncomfortable you felt!  When you get uncomfortable, the quitting factor comes in and you find it hard to keep going!  If you really disliked your experience, the likelihood of you doing it again is slim to none meaning you get to stay in your cozy, little bubble!  Do you know what I am talking about?  Have you experienced this?

Fear of failure is usually the number one reason people do not leave their bubble!  They even build walls to protect themselves from harm…aka FAILURE!  Unfortunately, this fear of failure can stop you from doing things far too soon and prevents you from seeing the amazing blessings the task would sow for you!

Here’s the problem…the fear of failure is typically a temporary feeling that can be overcome.  Once you break through that fear barrier, you can enjoy the experience at hand.  Let me give you an example.  You are deathly scared of heights, but in order to see the best view of Niagara Falls, you will have to go up an elevator and walk out on a balcony to see God’s creation.  Some may say “nope, not doing it” and they will miss it all together.  Others will weigh the options and ultimately go up the elevator (probably shaking), take a big gulp, walk out on the balcony (still scared) and see a rainbow, the sun hitting the water just right and gasp at the glorious view.  It is then that they realize this adventure was all worth it!  How did they overcome their fear of heights?  A huge part was their frame of mind.  They are still scared of heights, but they knew in order to see the view, they would have to get a little uncomfortable!

Throughout my years in direct sales, I have seen one thing to be true…successful people have the ability to overcome their fears and unsuccessful people give up too soon.  Unsuccessful people talk themselves out of things, give themselves reasons not to do something and then try to say “oh, it’s just not for me.”  Maybe it really isn’t for them, but most likely they just don’t want it bad enough!

So you need to lose weight?  You feel uncomfortable in front of people and hate what your body has become?  Start exercising, join a gym or hire a personal trainer!  Simple, right?  Not if you have thought of all the reasons it is impossible for you to lose weight, eat right and look good again.  Mindset!  If you are struggling to overcome your fears, start small.  Take baby steps.  So you want to lose weight?  Take a baby step and show up at the gym!   Exercise for 30 minutes.  Next time, go a little longer and so on.  Don’t worry about anything else, but showing up and making yourself exercise…even if for a short period of time.

In business, you have to do the same thing.  Start small, keep doing it and eventually it will become natural for you.  You will change your beliefs and the fear will eventually subside.  The real truth is most people believe they must be good at something before they even try!  This is absolutely NOT true!  Although it is good to recognize what you know you’re capable of doing or not doing, you need to understand that you CAN change!  You CAN step out of that comfort zone, overcome your fears and you WILL be capable!  Right now you may be limiting your beliefs, but if you really want to expand your horizons, you will.

What are some things you currently want to get better at, need to overcome or want to change?  What items in your life have been controlled by fear?  How can you approach these obstacles, take them on head first and allow yourself to enjoy the experience?  How do you apply this in your business?  Well, the best copycat wins!  Follow your leaders.  Do what they do!  Ask questions.  If they suggest you do something completely out of your comfort zone, embrace it.  Close your eyes, take a big gulp and just JUMP!  That is where true success and growth happen!  Don’t let yourself stay in your bubble…make that inner fear go away!

Join Sparkle Unleashed or more tips, guidance and support at SparkleUnleashedCommunity.com. Or connect with Jennifer Stroman on Facebook!