How to Stop Letting Our Fears Run the Show

We can create monsters of our fears in our heads.

• We have to stop giving fear power. We do that by saying, "I'm afraid, but I'm going to do it anyway."
• Saying your fears out loud or writing them down helps - you see how small the fear really is.
• We can decide always to do the thing we feel compelled to do, even if we feel scared about it.

Being an authentic person means having specific opinions and values, and people who have different values will not like what you say or do.

To overcome the fear of being your authentic self:

• Show that excellence is not tied to external packaging.
• Bring yourself to work, then be excellent.
• Show that your work is going to bring value, even with blue hair or braids.

When you have to do something difficult, ask yourself these questions to determine if you're impulsive or need to speak up.

• Do I really mean it, or do I just want to hear my own voice?
• Can I defend it if I'm challenged on it?
• Can I say it thoughtfully?