I recently spoke to a close friend who is in his mid- 40s. He told me about his fear when he was called to a job interview for a top level position. One of those jobs where you need to wear suits every day. He’s already worked at top levels before yet every time he’s called to an interview, the fear returns. It’s a normal emotion to feel specially when those voices in our head remind us we might not be the best candidates or about all the difficulties we might encounter such as not having more suits. The funny thing is that others see our capacity and strength yet we tend towards the negative thoughts that generate uncertainty, fear and anxiety.
What To Do
We first need to be aware of this feeling that is troubling us and, with compassion, invite ourselves to return to our inner core, our center. That is where we find our balance. How each of us manages that will be in different ways: breathing better, going for a walk, meditating, doing yoga, singing positive songs, repeating positive and healthy affirmations.
How Do You Deal with Change?
After gaining our center back we can ask ourselves how we are engaging with change and what’s happening to our flexibility. What emotions does this produce in us? Are we fearful, angry, tense, susceptible? If we are stiff and rigid we do not allow ourselves to adapt to the changing moments and times. When we trust who we are, our ESSENCE, when we live doing good to others and we perceive the world around us as good, we live with a deeper sense of trust and that we are capable of great things, even if some fear appears. These are elements that will make us more flexible to adapt and move with the strong winds. We accept them as necessary moments in life that cannot brake us. We transform with the winds of change.
Without Risk There is No Courage
Here is where COURAGE should come out when we step forward and take the RISK. Without risk there is no courage. When we let ourselves be vulnerable by being sincere in what we feel no matter how others may react or think, when we give the step towards that which we fear but we know is important in order to achieve what we desire. We can contribute to great things by leaving the comfort zone. Leaders are courageous and are usually examples towards future leaders. By being courageous we are giving to the world.
Only One Suit But Enough Courage
I remember the great courage that Will Smith (acting as Chris Gardner) portrayed in the film “The Pursuit of Happiness”. A real life situation where the Gardner’s were struggling economically. His wife did not have enough faith in him and left him, he took on the responsibility of raising a toddler alone during these rough times of homelessness when they even had to sleep in public bathrooms. He persevered and looked each day in the eye with courage and yes, at the beginning…with only one suit and one shirt. Now, he’s at the top with a fortune of around $60 million. What’s most important is that he showed us that you can raise yourself to the top even when you’re at the very bottom.
