Facing the Fear of Change: How to Embrace the Unknown
Face-to-face with fear—this crocodile on the Zambezi River reminded me how real danger feels and how often our imagined fears pale in comparison.
Change can feel overwhelming, even scary. For many of my clients, fear is the biggest thing holding them back from the future they truly want. But when I ask them, “How will it feel to be in the same place a year from now?” their answers are often the same—horrible, disappointed, frustrated, or stuck.
Why Change Feels Hard
Our minds are wired to focus on threats—like spotting a crocodile when you’re rafting on a river. I vividly remember seeing one while rafting below Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River. It was a chilling reminder of real danger, and my instincts kicked in to stay alert and cautious. But here’s the thing: most of the fears we face in life aren’t crocodiles. They’re imagined threats—“What if I fail?” or “What if I’m not good enough?”—and they don’t deserve the same level of attention or control over our lives.
What We Focus On Together
When working with my clients, we explore how fear manifests in their bodies—tightness, heaviness, or tension—and how it influences their decisions. Then, we shift those thoughts and feelings from fear to something more helpful, like curiosity or hope, which supports their goals rather than sabotaging them.
3 Steps to Move Beyond Fear
Acknowledge Your Fear
Recognize what you’re afraid of and how it feels. Is it a crocodile-level threat, or just a leap into the unknown?Picture Staying the Same
Imagine being stuck in the same place a year from now. Use those feelings of frustration or regret to motivate change.Take One Step
Even a small step forward shifts fear into action, building momentum toward the future you want.
The Gift of Change
Fear has its place—it’s there to protect us from real danger, like a crocodile in the Zambezi River. But most fears we face today aren’t life-threatening; they’re life-challenging. By shifting how you approach fear, you can open the door to growth, opportunity, and a future filled with possibility.
If fear has been keeping you from making the changes you want, let’s work together to navigate it and take meaningful steps forward.
Until next time,
Wendy Wheeler
Facing fears on the Zambezi with my Dad!
Rafting memories with my Dad!
