Fear. I know it isn’t something most people like to talk about, but let me tell y’all, if we talked about it more, we’d be a lot better off.

Why do I say that? Well, to begin with, no one is exempt from fear. Everyone can relate, and if they say they can’t, they’re either lying to you, or they’re lying to themselves.

The good news? We don’t have to be afraid of fear or let our fears drive us. In this blog, I want to explore what it looks like to kick fear to the curb by choosing to make a positive impact instead.

Understanding the Connection Between Positive Impact and Fear

You might wonder how fear can be thwarted by making a positive impact on someone or something, but I’m hoping to make it plain as day for you:

Think of fear like a downward spiral…with you inside of it. It’s a “me-focused” state. Everything is coming toward you, and you are drawing on resources from outside yourself to survive. Your mental picture is clouded by fear, and if you don’t get out of it, you just keep spiraling. Fear is not really a life-sustaining energy (unless you’re running from a bear).

On the other hand, positive impact is not a “me-focused” state. In fact, it’s the opposite. Imagine positive impact like an upward spiral with you at the base. You are giving of yourself, projecting your goodwill outward to the world, and offering life-sustaining energy to other folks in need. Instead of taking, you’re giving, and that’s a critical point to understand.

Fear (in its pure form like fight or flight) cannot occupy these two states at once. You’re either giving to everyone or taking from everyone. Now, don’t get me wrong, receiving is not a bad thing. Sometimes we need to make ourselves vulnerable, to let ourselves be cared for and nurtured by others; but that is not necessarily the same thing as being in the middle of the fear spiral. Likewise, you can still experience bouts of fear as you focus outside of yourself. But these temporary moments of insecurity are just that—temporary.

When you choose positive impact over fear, you shift your focus, create connections, fortify your mental health by reducing anxiety, build confidence, and find a sense of purpose and meaning that can obliterate the power of fear over your life. Go ahead. Give it a try and see.

Practical Ways to Make a Positive Impact

When you find yourself frozen with fear, you feel trapped. How can you escape it? How are you supposed to think and act positively when your knees are knocking and the anxiety is so bad you can barely get out of bed?

The short answer is to act before you are riddled with fear. That’s because once you’re in a fear spiral, the law of inertia kicks in: it’s hard to move yourself in a different direction; it’s easier to just keep on keepin’ on in your fear. Thankfully, positive action is as much a preventative as it is a curative.

So, in the spirit of being proactive and cutting fear off at the pass, here are some preventative measures that you can take to minimize your fear while making a positive impact on the world:

• Mentorship and Coaching: Take the time to invest in others, sharing your knowledge, skills, and experience to help them grow personally and professionally. I’m all about servant leadership, and this is a great opportunity to enhance your practice.

• Volunteering: Get involved in servant leadership by participating in community service activities, support networks, or volunteering for non-profit organizations to contribute to the betterment of society. It’s never a bad move to make a positive impact on those in need.

• Active Listening and Support: Practice empathetic listening and offer support to those around you (this can be done anywhere!). Lending a caring and supportive ear can make a significant positive impact on someone’s emotional well-being.

• Recognition and Appreciation: Recognizing someone’s hard work and contributions can foster a positive environment and boost morale. People love praise, and if it’s good for you and for them, why wouldn’t you do it?

• Lead by Example: Demonstrate integrity, humility, and a strong work ethic in your leadership role. Leading by example can inspire others to follow suit and create their own positive impact.

• Promote Diversity and Inclusion: Foster an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and everyone feels respected and empowered. Promoting diversity and inclusion can have a far-reaching positive impact on organizational culture and performance.

• Random Acts of Kindness: Engage in small but meaningful acts of kindness, whether it’s offering a helping hand, showing appreciation, or spreading positivity. These small gestures can have a significant impact on the people around you.

6 Steps to Build Positive Impact in Your Life

While the above may seem like steps, they aren’t. They are examples of ways people bring a positive impact to the world. I want to make sure I leave you with some steps, too, so you can really put one foot in front of the other and get out there and make the most positive impact possible.

• Be Present: In everything you do, take the time to be fully present when interacting with others. Listen actively, show empathy, and offer genuine support.

• Show Appreciation: Express gratitude and appreciation for the people in your life all the time! Simple words of thanks or recognition can really be a game-changer.

• Offer Help: Be proactive in offering assistance to those in need. Whether it’s lending a helping hand with a task or providing guidance, small acts of service can make a big difference.

• Spread Positivity: Share positive and uplifting messages with those around you. A kind word or a gesture of encouragement can have a lasting impact on someone’s mood and mindset.

• Lead with Kindness: Approach interactions with kindness and understanding. A warm and compassionate demeanor not only sets a positive example, it can also help alleviate others’ fears.

• Be a Role Model: Lead by example and embody the values you wish to promote. Your actions and attitude can inspire others to follow suit and create a positive impact in their own spheres of influence.

Meeting Common Obstacles Toe to Toe

Now, I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that using a positive impact strategy to move beyond your fears can come with some challenges. Turning our focus outward with the intent to make a positive impact will require resilience and dogged determination. When self-doubt and insecurity surface (chances are, they will), you’ll need to reach down deep and remember your own worth and capabilities.

Balancing your time and resources in the pursuit of positive change will be demanding. Learning to prioritize commitments and creatively utilizing your available resources are two keys to overcoming constraints and maximizing your impact.

Just remember that you’ll encounter resistance and pushback when you’re out there championing change. Patience, persistence, and the ability to engage in constructive dialogue are essential skills for navigating opposition and fostering understanding. After all, it’s hard to make a positive impact if you aren’t a very good communicator. Take the necessary time to learn more.

A fear of failure can discourage both your progress and innovation. To effectively make a positive impact, you must learn how to embrace setbacks as learning opportunities and reframe failures as stepping stones toward growth. You absolutely have got to let your setbacks be a setup for future success.

Feeling isolated or lacking support can also hinder your efforts to create positive change. Building a community of support for yourself, seeking mentorship, and reaching out for assistance are critical to sustaining your momentum toward impactful outcomes. You never know when allowing someone to mentor you might also impact them in a positive way.

When you acknowledge and address these issues early on, preparing yourself for the pushback, you can equip yourself with the resilience and determination needed to navigate challenges and continue making a meaningful difference in the world.

Conclusion

Making a positive impact on the world around us can give us a sense of purpose as we relate to being a part of the greater good. However, it doesn’t come without its trials and troubles.

By maintaining a heart of servant leadership, you can’t go wrong. You’ll feel the desire to mentor and coach, express and share your gratitude, spread positivity, and offer a helping hand to those around you. That’s where the magic lies.

Will fear play a part? Sure it will. That’s fear’s job, but you just need to hold your direction steadfast and true. This path isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for leaders, just like you.

I’ll see you at the top!

To learn more about how you can turn your fear into fuel and be inspired to greatness, go here.