Guest blog post by FHRD Fellow Member, Olivia Bilocca
Fear is a natural human response: but when left unexamined, it quietly shapes our choices, limits our actions, and narrows our thinking. In leadership, personal growth, and decision-making, fear can operate behind the scenes, influencing us without our awareness.
The first step in managing fear is naming it clearly.
What exactly am I afraid of?
Where is it coming from?
How does it show up [in my thoughts, emotions, or behaviors]?
When we fail to name fear, it remains a vague, powerful force. But when we are willing to look at it closely [to define it and understand it] fear becomes something we can work with, not something that controls us.
Deconstructing fear involves asking:
- What triggered this fear?
- Is it pointing to a real threat or a perceived one?
- What story am I telling myself because of it?
Once fear is named and broken down, we create space for a different kind of decision-making, one based on intentional choice, not automatic reaction.
We move from fear-driven behavior to values-driven action.
Managing fear isn’t about becoming fearless. It’s about building a conscious relationship with fear, so it no longer makes decisions on our behalf.
This mindset sits at the heart of the work I facilitate: helping people become more aware of how fear operates and equipping them with tools to navigate it constructively.
For those interested in diving deeper: https://www.shemalta.com/product/confronting-fear/
