Blog by Tracy Stock, CSP
Fear of change is incredibly human. If you feel it, nothing is wrong with you—it usually means you care, and you’re paying attention. Fear is a loyal companion to any fresh start. It whispers doubts: What if you fail again? What if this new way hurts? However, fear can also be a powerful signal. It can alert you that something meaningful is at stake. Often, the things we’re most afraid to begin are the things that end up mattering most. I have found that the goal shouldn’t be to eliminate fear by waiting to feel fearless. This behavior will certainly keep you stuck. Instead, choose to be the driver of the change you want in your life—while allowing fear to be a quiet backseat passenger.
Here are five strategies for how to keep fear buckled up behind you:
1. Name the Fear (Specifically). Vague fear feels overwhelming. Specific fear is manageable. Instead of “I’m scared of change,” ask:
- What exactly am I afraid will happen?
- What do I think I’ll lose?
- What’s the worst-case scenario—and how realistic is it?
Once fear has a name, it loses some of its power.
2. Separate Discomfort from Danger. Your brain is wired to treat uncertainty as a threat. But discomfort ≠ danger. Ask yourself: Is this actually unsafe, or just unfamiliar? Have I survived similar changes before? Most change feels scary because it’s new—not because it’s harmful.
3. Shrink the Change. Big change is intimidating. Small change is doable. You don’t need to leap. You can:
- Take a trial step
- Set a short timeline (“I’ll try this for 30 days”)
- Change one habit, not everything at once
Momentum builds confidence, not the other way around.
4. Focus on What You’re Choosing, Not What You’re Losing. Fear fixates on loss. Intentionally shift your focus to what you are gaining. Ask:
- What am I moving toward?
- What does staying the same cost me?
- Who could I become if this works?
Sometimes the fear of staying stuck needs to be louder than the fear of changing.
5. Trust Yourself. You don’t need certainty that things will work out. You need to trust that you will handle whatever happens. Remind yourself that you’ve adapted before; you’ve learned from mistakes; you’re more resilient than you think. Confidence comes from self-trust, not guarantees.
If you’re standing at the edge of something new, unsure whether to step forward, remember this: you don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to be willing to begin. New beginnings aren’t about being fearless or flawless. Change invites uncertainty, yet it also invites possibility. When you let go of what no longer fits, you create space—space for growth, for connection, for versions of yourself you haven’t met yet. Not every beginning leads exactly where you expect, and that’s okay. Some paths teach you something before gently redirecting you. Others surprise you in the best possible way.
Courageously facing change is similar to driving: fear—at least in the beginning—is normal, visibility ahead can be limited, and making mistakes on the road is inevitable. But you can either choose to remain in “park”—which guarantees you’ll never arrive, or you can choose to sit confidently behind the wheel, start your engine, and bravely drive your life forward.
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