Fear: The Invisible Barrier Holding You Back
Fear is one of the most powerful forces in the human experience. It can save our lives—or it can quietly steal them from us, one unmade decision at a time.
There’s a critical difference we often forget:
Physical fear is that jolt of adrenaline when a car swerves into your lane or a stranger makes you feel unsafe. It’s your body doing exactly what God designed it to do—protect you.
Emotional fear, however, is a different beast. This is the fear Brendon Burchard talks about often—the fear of loss, fear of hardship, or fear of the unknown outcome. It’s not about survival; it’s about your brain’s attempt to manage uncertainty. And if left unchecked, it will keep you stuck.
The Three Emotional Fears
1. Fear of Loss
We hesitate to make a change because we’re afraid of what we might lose—security, approval, comfort, identity. Even if what we currently have isn’t working, it feels safer than letting go.
2. Fear of Hardship
We avoid taking action because it looks like too much work, too much effort, or too steep of a climb. We forget that growth is supposed to feel hard—it’s called becoming for a reason.
3. Fear of the Outcome
“What if it doesn’t work out?” That question haunts so many dreams. We project into the future, assume failure, and retreat before we even begin.
The Hidden Cost of Emotional Fear
When you don’t manage your mind, fear becomes the loudest voice in the room. You procrastinate, self-sabotage, or stay in relationships, jobs, or patterns that don’t serve you—all because fear whispers “what if”. And here’s the truth: the longer you let fear drive, the more joy, freedom, and meaning you leave on the table.
How to Break Free
1. Name the Fear
Call it out for what it is—loss, hardship, or outcome. Once you label it, it loses some of its power.
2. Redirect Your Brain
Instead of obsessing over the possible pain, ask: “What could I gain?” What joy, freedom, growth, or peace might be waiting on the other side of this risk?
3. Release the Outcome
You can’t control how everything turns out—but you can control showing up with courage, integrity, and faith. Outcomes aren’t guaranteed, but obedience, growth, and becoming always bring reward.
The Invitation
Fear doesn’t disappear—it’s managed. It’s trained. It’s reframed. This was my personal journey and why I am a coach today! Had I listened to the fear in my head, I would have never taken the first step. My brain didn’t like doing something new. It told me to get back in the cave and stay safe. The lesson here? I didn’t have to listen to this voice. I can decide what I want to listen to.
The more you practice, the more you’ll find yourself moving from fear of loss to gratitude, from fear of hardship to strength, and from fear of outcome to joy in the process.
When you learn to manage your mind, you stop letting fear steal the pen—and you start rewriting your story.