HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY OVERCOME FEAR WITH YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE
So recently, I did a couple of workshops at my local university and it made me realise how far I’ve come in terms of my confidence because - spoiler alert - I used to be really really shy. The fact that I now do video? It’s a big deal!
And let’s be honest, we’re all quite shy and afraid when it comes to putting ourselves out there with our online presence - I am, you are, and so many other people feel this way too.
Some of the reasons that I’m shy when it comes to my online presence, and you might be able to relate to them, are, this is stupid - I can’t make videos, I can’t put my face out there for people to see, it’s just too scary. Or I can’t write or talk about that topic because no one is going to get it.
I have a few ways that I’ve learned to cope with shyness and fear over the last four years that I’ve been a blogger, and they’re pretty effective so I wanted to share them with you.
HOW CAN YOU OVERCOME YOUR FEARS WITH YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE?
#1 | EMBRACE IT
Embrace the fear. Embrace the shyness and actually say it aloud. I know that sounds scary, but it really helps.
The problem is that it’s in your head. So the moment you get it out of your head, the moment you realise that that’s what the problem is. That’s the only place it actually lives.
So if you embrace these feelings and say them aloud or even write them down, it’s almost like lifting the weight off your shoulders. It allows you to take action on what it is that’s making you feel this way, by creating some intentional steps to combat your fears.
#2 | REMEMBER YOUR WHY
Write your why down on a sticky note and putting it somewhere you can see daily so you remember why you’re actually doing all of this.
So when I say your why, I mean the purpose, cause or belief that inspires you. Knowing your why gives you a filter to make choices that will help you find greater fulfilment in all that you do.
Make sure that you know what your why is - it doesn’t have to be made up of the perfect words. And a little tip that I’ve sort of carried with my throughout my life - you don’t have to write down every single detail.
So write it down on a sticky note and leave it there as a reminder that you’re doing all this for a reason and your shyness or fears won’t stop you.
#3 | MAKE FRIENDS
So find your people. Find them online and also find them in real life. Maybe there’s a blogger you’ve been chatting to that lives close to you. Reach out to them and see if they want to meet up for a blogging chat or a co-working afternoon.
You also want to find people who are at a similar stage to you so you can form a little friendship group and ask each other questions and share your struggles and wins.
So find friends, both those who you look up to and those on the same level as you.
#4 | TAKE A BREAK
Even if it’s just ten minutes out of your day - get outside, read a chapter of your book, just put down all devices and technology because it can get so overwhelming for your brain when you’re just looking at them constantly and don’t give yourself a breather.
Take a break from your blog and do things that make you feel good, that can help to clear your mind a bit.
#5 | GIVE YOURSELF A PHRASE
So this is something you say to yourself, multiple times a day if you need to, to beat your fears. This quote really speaks a lot to me and I always say this to myself, especially when I’m feeling overwhelmed or when something isn’t going right and I’m scared… I say "Peonies Grow Through The Dirt And So Do We" - and that quote is from Lara Casey.
It's a great way to get out of the negative mindset of feeling overwhelmed and feeling like you can’t do something, because other people have done it and you can do it, and you can do it even bigger and better, because you’re going to do it in your own way.
P.S I've made a free workbook to help you overcome your fears once and for all! Download it below.
What did I miss out? Leave a comment below and let me know how you overcome your fears with your online presence.
Remember to follow these five tips when it comes to overcoming your fears so you can continue to get one step closer to a breakthrough