Fear based thinking.

We have all had times when we were afraid. Felt some fear. Had our pants scared off of us.

Fear, on a certain level, is a good thing. It helps to keep us safe. In our primitive mind, it is there to alert us of approaching danger. That's a good thing.

The other side of fear is that side that keeps us from doing what we want to do (or, perhaps, even what we SHOULD do). That uneasy feeling in our gut that immobilizes us. We've all felt it. And, we've all dealt with it in our own ways.

I'd like to examine fear based thinking a bit here, and see if we can shed some light on this topic.

In sales, fear is often used as a motivator. As in, the fear of loss (versus the desire for gain). Certainly, it has been used quite effectively. While I am by no means advocating trickery, dishonesty or self-serving sales techniques, I am sure that ethical and moral sales people and business implement this strategy in a transparent manner.

In this usage, prospects are shown what they have to lose by not acting now. Perhaps it is a price increase that is coming. Or, a change in manufacturing procedures. Or, the loss of security for themselves and their loved ones. Whatever the perceived loss is (and, it's all about perception, isn't it?), the loss is actually the duality exposed of the desire.

Let's examine: price. A price increase is coming. Now, the prospect wants to pay a reasonable price for the product or service. That is their desire. They don't want to pay more than they have to. So, when they are informed of an increase that is coming, they DESIRE to act on the offer more quickly--so that their desire can be fulfilled.

This is a good thing. The desire is creating a greater sense of urgency to act due to the information regarding the impending price increase. Acting based on this information actually helps the prospect.

If the business/salesperson was informing the prospect in an honest manner, then this is actually not fear-based thinking. It is a desire for gain, and it is all good and well. However, if the impending price increase was a lie, and there is no impending price increase...well, then the business/salesperson definitely has an integrity problem. That's a whole 'nother ballgame.

We are all faced with choices every single day of our lives. How we respond to these choices often comes down to fear or desire. Do we desire to improve our lot in life? Or, are we afraid of making a mistake? Do we desire to grow as a person? Or, are we afraid of what others might think of us? Do we desire to choose X or Y? Or, are we afraid of making a mistake?

One of the greatest fears out there is the one where we think that everything must be perfect BEFORE we can act on a certain matter. This holds back more people than you probably imagine. Lying in the middle of this cesspool of mediocrity is the common belief that somehow we are not good enough. Good enough to deserve whatever it is that we felt we could have.

That's another fear, by the way.

Over time, thinking in this manner creates more and more indecision in our lives. We become afraid to make ANY decisions whatsoever. Because--what's the use, right?

A little wake up call here: there is never a time when all the lights are green. You've just got to get out there and do something. Life is one thing after another, and until you accept that, you will be immobilized continually by imagined fears.

Sure, you might make a mistake. Sure, you might not immediately succeed in the way that you thought you would. But through these experiences, you gain something more valuable--wisdom. You gain the wisdom of learning how to do it, how to move forward, how to make it right.

Living in fear will only create more fear for you. Living in desire will only create more desire for you. They're both just opposite sides of the same "coin". Hesitancy creates indecision and indecision creates hesitancy. And, whenever you hesitate, you miss out on great opportunities.