| Fear is a natural trait common to all of us. | | | | 4. Keep track of your successes. Many experts |
| Overcoming fear, however, is a learned response and | | | | assert that societal messages tend to condition our |
| approached differently by each individual. We may | | | | psyches to concentrate on the negatives of life. |
| initially fear the first steps we take as babies, but we | | | | Sustaining a positive outlook, however, is necessary |
| have to take them in order to continue growing | | | | in overcoming fear. Acknowledge your setbacks and |
| successfully. As we age, different fears crop up, so | | | | learn from them, but do not drown in self-doubt. |
| how you handle them and take risks are important | | | | 5. Demystify fear and failure. Smart risk taking means |
| for achieving personal and professional growth. | | | | accepting that you might fail, but that you see a |
| "Risk taking is very much a learning process," says | | | | reasonable chance for success. |
| Suzanne Green Metzger, a corporate trainer and | | | | 6. Visualize your success. The idea behind the method |
| speaker. "I compare those who don't risk to 'living | | | | advocates the visualization of success and helps you |
| impaired.' It's necessary in order to grow." | | | | exude confidence. Eventually your projection of a |
| Like Metzger, many experts assert that your | | | | winning attitude becomes a natural part of your |
| environment and the number of times you have | | | | demeanor. |
| risked successfully in the past affect your ability and | | | | 7. Be flexible to options. Prepare as much as possible |
| desire to gamble. | | | | for your chosen direction, but remain open to the |
| How can you become more comfortable with risk | | | | possibility that you may need to make a detour. |
| taking? Start small, and consider these 10 | | | | Focus on your objective, and then determine which |
| courage-building techniques. | | | | option leads you there. |
| 1. Understand your own strengths and weaknesses. | | | | 8. Find a support group that suits you. The right |
| "Our fears are as individual as we ourselves are," | | | | support group provides advice and helps you |
| writes Jeannette Scollard in her book Risk to Win. | | | | concentrate on your assets. |
| "It's important not to let fear paralyze us into | | | | 9. Give yourself a reward when you succeed, and |
| inactivity." Accept that risk taking is a learned skill. | | | | even if you fail. A reward helps reinforce the idea |
| 2. Know what you want in your career and personal | | | | that you are facing the struggle-that in itself is a |
| life. Concentrate on the outcomes you want rather | | | | triumph. |
| than what you do not want. | | | | 10. Become a mentor. Some experts say that people |
| 3. Assess the risk before the undertaking. If you are | | | | who successfully make changes in their lives and help |
| a novice risk taker, start with small changes then | | | | others do the same remain vigilant in their risk taking |
| advance. Use your comfort level to gauge the | | | | journey. |
| appropriateness of the risk. | | | | |