"Fears are nothing more than states of mind." - Napoleon Hill

The Cambridge Dictionary defines fear as:

"an unpleasant emotion or thought that you have when you are frightened or worried by something dangerous, painful or bad that is happening or might happen"

Now, in day-to-day life, we don't generally end up in situations where something dangerous is actually happening. So Napoleon Hill's quote is reminding us that fear is something in the mind, rather than reality.

We're usually fearing something that we're imagining might happen.

Yet how often does fear hold us back from taking action?

Ever seen the perfect job advert, but not applied, for fear of not getting an interview?
Ever known someone you really liked, yet not asked them on a date, for fear that they might say no?
Ever turned down an amazing opportunity, for fear that it might not work out?

... and the list goes on...

When we look back at life, in balance, our biggest regrets are usually the things we didn't do, rather than the things we did do.

But we get scared.

That inner critic is great at pointing out all the ways our dream might not happen and it's highly effective at holding us back from taking action. In fact, we sometimes get so paralysed by the worry and fear that the opportunity sails straight by and then it's too late.

Fear is a natural response to stepping outside of your comfort zone. It's your mind's way of telling you to be careful - that you're moving into unknown territory. Yet you don't have to be Christopher Columbus, sailing off the edge of the map, in order to stretch your boundaries a little. You just have to be prepared to take baby steps in the direction you're aiming for.

Getting moving - taking action, no matter how small - helps you figure out whether you're moving in the right direction. Stand still and you'll still be there when you're in your eighties, wishing you had grabbed those opportunities and gone for it.

Your body's intuition will soon tell you if the actions are moving you closer to or further away from where you want to be. And, if you're taking small action steps, it's easy to change direction. After all, the laws of physics tell us that it's easier to change the direction of a moving object than a stationary one. So if you're allowing yourself to be paralysed by fear and you're not taking action, then you're stuck. And that, in itself, is a decision.

What's the easiest way out of fear?

The easiest way out of fear is to exercise caution.

The dictionary defines caution as:
"great care and attention"

So think for a moment about a challenging decision you've been facing. How much easier would it be if you just acknowledged the fear and proceeded with caution - with great care and attention?

Surely then you'd spot problems before they became big issues and you'd find it easier to create solutions?

It's just a change of mindset. Nothing more. And you can always change your mind.

Not understanding the difference between fear and caution could end up being your biggest regret.

Is there anything you'd like to start doing differently now?

For more strategies for letting go of what's been holding you back from creating the life of your dreams and feeling happier, visit http://www.howtofeelhappier.com/blog

From Clare Josa: author, seminar leader, expert coach and Chief Happiness Experimenter for How To Feel Happier.