Would you like to feel braver?

People's fear is so often what stops them losing weight or keeping it off. It stops them from changing their actions and habits and so they never make the progress they desire.

Fear of being judged in the gym, by their friends, family or colleagues about their food choices or fear of looking silly, weak or incapable when asking for help.

Fear of wasting prepped food if they don't fancy it on the day, fear of missing out if they prioritise their time towards exercise or meal prep or fear of being too tired if we get up earlier and exercise.

I'd bet that some form of fear is stopping you from making the progress you want. Fear is a general term that could cover reluctance, hesitation, worry, concern or many other variants of avoidance.

I just read about fear in a leadership book as, ironically, I realised it was fear of not enjoying the other book I have with me about accounts that is stopping me from doing the work that would have a bigger impact on Sustain!

This isn't a petrifying fear but a worry or concern that by doing the boring task I will miss out.

The opposite of fear is bravery or courage.

“The hero and the coward both feel the same thing, but the hero uses his fear, projects it onto his opponent, while the coward runs. It's the same thing, fear, but it's what you do with it that matters."

It's not always about changing how you feel but how you act; which will in turn change how you feel.

Today in the gym a young guy left a load of weight on a bar and it aggravated me. I toyed with asking him to take it off and wavered for a few minutes while I continued to work out.

I could feel my mind racing and my body react to the potential confrontation. My heart rate went up and I could feel it in my legs and stomach. Which seems daft now I type it out but shows my aversion to conflict!

It was fear, and I was scared.

But if my Mum was training there she wouldn't be able to move the plates. It's good gym etiquette and if people aren't held to account then things don't change.

"Excuse me mate, are you done on the smith machine?" I say, knees knocking like a flamingo. Silently thanking God that the gym music was loud enough to cover the sound.

"Yes" he politely nods, taking an earphone out, leaning towards me and looking me in the eye.

"I don't want to be a massive knob but would you ..." I confidently say.

I can see his shoulders sag in admittance of his error and it's all fine as I finish off

"..mind putting the weights back please?"

"Yes of course" he gingerly replies.

I didn't stand there like some gym police to watch if he did it but I had done my part and stood up for something I believed in. I went against my inner inhibitions and I'm glad I did. I did it in a way that in hindsight I am happy with and got my point across in the way that I think it was most likely to be actioned.

Would I have done this if he'd been twice my size? Possibly not. But maybe there's a learning in here for me too.

My recommendation is to be brave, to challenge your inner thoughts and act in spite of them.

There is so much to gain from this and it's only by pushing beyond our comfort zones that we are able to make big achievements.

"If you always do what you've always done, then you'll always be where you've always been."

Remember the solitary brave hero is a fairy-tale. Frodo didn't run across Middle Earth on his own. Authors have editors and media teams. Athletes have coaches and physios. Leaders have mentors. Business owners have boards. Success leaves clues.

By not being afraid of asking for help, you invite it.

If you are currently struggling and would like some help then you can book in for a complimentary call with me here: Select a Date & Time (Calendly)