No one said you weren't allowed to feel fear. If someone told you that, they were wrong.
Fear is normal. But the absence of fear isn't a requirement for taking action.
Years ago, I met a professor in Charlotte and gravitated toward him instantly. He'd studied leadership development and human psychology far longer than I had, much of it under the influence of Carl Jung. In one of our conversations, I mentioned fear I had around a project. That's when he hit me with some Jung gold.
"Where your fear is, there your task is." Carl Jung
The wisdom in that line isn't to remove or eliminate fear. It's to run toward it. The tasks and opportunities that scare you are exactly where you grow the most and find out what you're capable of.
The size or specifics of the task you fear are irrelevant. Maybe it’s:
Having the hard conversation with an underperforming employee
Asking for the raise or promotion you know you've earned
Setting a boundary with a parent, a boss, or a friend
Running the marathon or entering the competition
Getting on stage to speak or perform for the first time
Whatever it is for you, the only thing that matters is taking action despite it.
Where your fear is, there your task is.
P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.
Use Your Gifts,
John Eades
Creator, The Leadership Lens & The Optimistic Outlook