Hi friend,

I hope you're doing great! Spring has officially arrived here in Arizona, but I realize it might be a different story where you are—it could very well be autumn! Regardless of the season, it's April, and we're diving into a topic that binds us all together: FEAR. Together, let's figure out how to conquer it.

I've always lived by the mantra "Fear less, do more," and that's going to be our theme for April. I was raised to believe in seizing every opportunity that comes my way, and to do that, we've got to face our fears head-on.

Did you know we all share common fears? If you look up the top 30 human fears, you'll see we're afraid of things like snakes, heights, enclosed spaces, doctors, shots, the dark, and the list goes on. These common fears are external, while our personal fears are internal. And most of our limiting beliefs stem from some form of fear. Maybe you fear public speaking or asking for a raise. Or perhaps a particular client makes you so nervous you can't perform as well as you'd like.

Understanding fear comes in two ways: internal and external. We can label fear as "False Evidence Appearing Real" or "False Expectations Appearing Real." The first label deals with imagined external negative outcomes that feel very real, while the second is more about the internal doubts that hold us back.

Let me illustrate with a couple of examples:

Imagine Emily and Lily, lifelong best friends. As adults, Emily misinterprets Lily's distracted behavior, thinking she's being avoided. This false evidence fuels Emily's fears of losing her friend, pushing them apart. Meanwhile, Lily is dealing with her own stuff, totally unaware of Emily's feelings. It takes a confrontation for them to clear the air and rebuild their trust. This is false evidence appearing real.

Then there's Sam, who dreams of being a writer. But as he starts his first novel, he's overwhelmed by self-doubt. False expectations convince him he'll never make it, and he gives up on his dream before he even tries. And this is an example of false expectations appearing real.

DO THIS

As you start this journey into understanding your own fears, I challenge you to notice when fear creeps in on you. What's making you uneasy? Is it false evidence or false expectations?

Jot it down in your journal.

THINK THIS

Personal fears often hold us back in life. They mess with our decision-making, stop us from taking risks, and crush our self-confidence. But here's the thing: we all face these fears.

This month, let's tackle fear together. Because once we understand and confront our fears, we can unlock our full potential and achieve amazing things.

Wishing you a fantastic April!

-Liz-