Have you ever looked at life from the perspective of jumping out of a plane? Whatever it is that you are worried about doing, once you jump, you have to go where the wind takes you.
People who live with that philosophy are known as “fearless,” or, sometimes, “ crazy.” But being fearless has some major benefits to outweigh the drawbacks.
Note that there’s a difference between being confident and being fearless. They’re interrelated but distinctly unique.
Confidence lets you go through your day without the fear of rejection or failure. It’s a great trait to have, but fearlessness is the next level beyond confidence.
When you mix fearlessness with confidence, you have the courage to take big leaps into the unknown. You can live your dreams, build bridges to places that you can’t see, and take chances others wouldn’t even imagine.
Sure, the pain might sting if you fail in your next endeavor. But if you succeed? Oh, the rewards!
Yes, being fearless comes with a lot of benefits. Here are seven benefits that fearless people experience:
Most people handle their fear in one of two ways. They give a nod to it and then bury it in other emotions and actions. Or, they grab onto the fear and blow it out of proportion.
When you’re fearless, you acknowledge your fear for what it is: your body’s concern for your safety. You take that fear into account, adjust your actions accordingly, and move forward.
If your safety is truly at risk and you can’t take any protective measures, you probably won’t follow through with the idea. But if it’s a matter of fight-versus-flight, you’ll get through the hard part for the thrill of the glory on the other side.
The only time that growth occurs is when you are no longer in your comfort zone. This is a topic researched and discussed frequently by motivational speakers. And it’s covered in depth in entrepreneurial articles.
Life is meant to be lived, not repeated in preset patterns. Those, by definition, are called ruts.
Jumping out of the realm of complacency into brand new, uncharted territory is the job of a fearless person. Because of this, these people are always growing and learning.
Once you overcome the fear of rejection, it’s easier to do anything in life.
Most of our dreams are killed by the words, “What would people think?” If the thoughts and opinions of complete strangers don’t concern you, you can focus on fulfilling your dreams and goals.
Fearless people understand that rejection is required to accomplish great things. Just look at J.K. Rowling, for example. She was rejected 12 times for her Harry Potter book before it was published!
Being “fearless” doesn’t mean that you don’t feel fear. It means you have the skills to analyze any problem that comes your way.
As you think through problems, you begin to analyze yourself. Why do you have this fear? Is it because of past experiences or potential consequences? Are you hardwired to feel that fear biologically?
Once you dig deep and identify your fears, you can overcome any mental obstacle you encounter.
You might not realize this, but a lot of people have a difficult time asking for help. They worry about bothering the other person or getting rejected.
For a fearless person, turning to someone else for assistance is second nature. They don’t worry about it, because they know it’s part of life.
We can’t do everything alone, and any job is easier when two or more people put their heads together.
Regret is painful, especially when it comes to missed opportunities. No one wants to stay awake all night thinking about the chances they never took.
You hear this cliche question frequently:
When you’re on your deathbed, will you be happy with the choices you made, or regret the things you didn’t do?
Taking chances may have consequences, but you’ll never sit there and wonder what might have been.
Usually, fearless people end up with the best stories later in life. They did something courageous, and whether it worked out or didn’t, they survived and came out on the other side.
That gives them a story to tell about the time they did something crazy that no one else thought would work. Or the time they threw their hands up and took a chance, knowing it could mean pain or sorrow if it failed.
Nearly every movie is based on the premise that someone, at some point, is going to act fearlessly. Whether it’s to risk it all to get the girl or face the bad guy to save the world, the movie needs a fearless action. Without it, the movie is dull and pointless.
Think like a character in a movie would. Remind yourself that the first 15 seconds of anything new is the hardest. Get through that short time, and an adventure awaits on the other side.
The confidence to take big risks is a part of being fearless that others envy. Most people wish they had the gumption to make the choices that would take them closer to their dreams, but they worry too much about the details.
When you’re fearless, you take the risks. You chase the goals. And you deal with the consequences, both good and bad.
It’s not easy to be fearless. But if it were simple, it wouldn’t be such an incredible trait.
Author Bio: Adam Marshall is a freelance writer who specializes in all things apartment, organization, real estate, and college advice. He currently works with Reserve Carrollton to help them with their online marketing.