1. What are the seven core fears that impact our careers?
see all the answers below
2. How can fear hold us back in our careers?
3. What is the role of faith in overcoming fear?
4. How can we build our faith in our careers?
5. How can a career coach help us conquer fear and build faith?
Fear is a universal human experience that transcends generations. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Psychological Research [1] identified seven core fears that impact us: finances, health, career, parenting, relationships, personal goals, and mortality. As career coaches, these fears manifest in countless ways—missed promotions, unpursued passions, and feeling stuck. But what if I told you there’s a powerful antidote to fear? Faith.
The Weakening Grip of Fear
Fear can be debilitating. It whispers doubts, paralyses us with indecision, and keeps us clinging to the familiar, even when unfulfilling. In the context of your career, this might look like staying in a soul-sucking job because the security feels safer than taking a leap of faith towards your dream. The fear of failure could prevent you from pursuing a challenging promotion or starting your own business.
The quote, “Fear weakens, but faith strengthens,” captures this perfectly. Faith, in whatever form it takes for you, can be the fuel that propels you forward. The unwavering belief in yourself, your abilities, and a higher purpose guides you through uncertainty.
What are the seven core fears that impact our careers?
Finances, health, career, parenting, relationships, personal goals, and mortality. The article focuses on the fear of a career.
From Imprisonment to Liberation
Fear can feel like a prison, confining you to a self-imposed state of limitation. You might know a path you should take, but be too afraid to take that first step. This can manifest in a career rut, a nagging sense that you’re not reaching your full potential.
Here’s where faith steps in as a liberating force. It’s the key that unlocks the door of your potential, encouraging you to step outside your comfort zone and embrace the possibilities. As your coach, I can help you identify the fears holding you back and develop the faith you need to break free.
Faith: The Powerhouse of Empowerment
Fear paralyses, but faith empowers. It replaces doubt with conviction and fuels your determination. Think of a time you overcame a significant challenge in your career. What motivated you? Chances are, it was a deep-seated belief in yourself and your ability to succeed – a form of faith.
This empowering faith allows you to approach challenges with courage and resilience. The unwavering confidence tells you, “I can do this,” even when the path ahead seems daunting. With this kind of faith propelling you forward, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the inevitable obstacles on your career journey.
How can fear hold us back in our careers?
Fear can make us doubt our abilities, avoid risks, and stay stuck in unfulfilling jobs.
From Discouragement to Encouragement
Fear can be incredibly disheartening. It chips away at your confidence and makes you question your every move. This negativity can be incredibly destructive in the competitive world of careers.
Faith, however, is a wellspring of encouragement. It’s the voice within that reminds you of your strengths, your past achievements, and your capacity for growth. As your coach, I can help you cultivate this inner voice of encouragement, but ultimately, your faith will sustain you through the inevitable setbacks and disappointments.
Building Your Faith
So, how do you cultivate this kind of career-empowering faith? Here are a few tips:
Identify Your Values: What matters most to you in a career? Clarifying your values gives you a North Star to guide your decisions and fuels your motivation. This intrinsic sense of purpose strengthens your faith in your chosen path.
Focus on Your Strengths: We all have unique talents and abilities. Identifying and honing your strengths builds confidence and fuels your belief in yourself. Remember, “to one who has faith, no explanation is necessary.” Your strengths are your silent testament to your capabilities.
Visualise Success: Take time to imagine yourself achieving your career goals vividly. See yourself excelling in your dream role or running your own thriving business. This mental rehearsal strengthens your faith in your ability to make it happen.
Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. This reinforces the positive momentum and strengthens your faith in your ability to keep moving forward.
Seek Support: Surround yourself with positive and encouraging people who believe in you. A supportive network can be a powerful source of faith and encouragement, especially when self-doubt creeps in.
What is the role of faith in overcoming fear?
Faith can be a powerful antidote to fear. It can give us the confidence and motivation to pursue our goals, even when faced with challenges.
Empowered by Faith: Conquering Specific Career Fears
While the core fears we discussed can manifest in various ways within your career, here are some specific anxieties and how faith can help you overcome them:
Fear of Failure: This is a big one. The fear of rejection or falling short can prevent you from taking risks or pursuing challenging opportunities. However, faith allows you to reframe failure as a learning experience, a stepping stone on your path to success. Remember, every successful person has faced setbacks. Your faith can fuel the resilience to bounce back and keep moving forward.
Fear of Change: The world of work is constantly evolving, and change can be scary. But faith can empower you to embrace change as an opportunity for growth. Faith in your adaptability and ability to learn new skills allows you to approach change with excitement rather than trepidation.
Fear of Leaving Your Comfort Zone: Growth often requires stepping outside your comfort zone. This can be especially challenging in your career, where familiarity can feel safe. However, faith allows you to trust that even when venturing into the unknown, you have the resources and capabilities to navigate it successfully.
Fear of Being Undervalued: The fear of not being recognised for your contributions can be incredibly demotivating. But faith reminds you of your intrinsic worth and your unique value proposition. Focus on your impact and value, and trust that the right recognition will follow.
Imposter Syndrome: Many high achievers experience feelings of inadequacy, doubting their accomplishments and fearing exposure as a fraud. Faith combats these feelings by reminding you of the hard work and dedication that got you where you are. Trust in your abilities and the journey that led you to this point.
How can we build our faith in our careers?
Identifying your values, focusing on your strengths, visualising success, celebrating milestones, and seeking support.
The Role of Your Career Coach
As your career coach, I can partner in your journey of conquering fear and building faith. Here’s how I can support you:
Uncovering Your Fears: I can help you identify the specific fears holding you back in your career through coaching conversations. Once you understand the root cause of your anxieties, you can begin to address them.
Developing Your Faith Muscle: We can work together to develop the practices and strategies to strengthen your faith in yourself and your abilities. This might involve anything from identifying your strengths to developing a compelling vision for your future.
Providing Encouragement and Accountability: There will be times when self-doubt creeps in. That’s where I come in as your cheerleader, reminding you of your progress and holding you accountable for your goals.
Connecting You with Resources: I can connect you with resources to further support your career development and bolster your faith in your journey.
How can a career coach help us conquer fear and build faith?
By providing encouragement and accountability and connecting you with resources.
The Takeaway: Faith is Your Fuel
Fear is a natural human emotion that doesn’t have to control your career destiny. You can transform fear into a powerful motivator by cultivating faith in yourself, your abilities, and a higher purpose. Remember, “to one without faith, no explanation is possible.” With unwavering faith as fuel, you’ll be unstoppable on your journey to achieving your career dreams.
Embrace the power of faith, and take charge of your career journey today!
This is timing.God bless you.
This is really worth reading. I found this blog very helpful. The quote “Fear weakens, but faith strengthens” resonates with me. I was held back for years by the fear of failure, but now I feel equipped with an important tool – “Faith” – to navigate my way through it.
I highly recommend that anyone who reads this blog also check out part two on this website: https://samsoyombo.com/conquering-the-7-core-fears/.
Thanks a lot.
I was blessed by this blog. There are times in my life i had face the fear of how life will become and how i tend to move on with my life. These fears comes knocking at my face and i began to lose the faith i had in myself.
Reading this blog, the part where it was written that “Fear is a natural human emotion that doesn’t have to control your career destiny”. I was blessed by that write up and it changed my mentality.
Thank you, Sam,for your insightful blog on how faith can empower our career journey. I learned that fear can hold us back, but faith can be a powerful antidote, giving us the confidence and motivation to pursue our goals. I appreciate your tips on building faith, such as identifying our values, focusing on our strengths, and visualizing success. Your blog has inspired me to cultivate faith and take charge of my career journey. Thank you for your encouragement and guidance!”