Note:  This is a guest post from the unstoppable Tess Marshall from The Bold Life.

When we’re paralyzed by fear, we’re unable to do what needs to be done. We hesitate and procrastinate. We drag our feet and waste our time.

Without action, fear quickly spirals out of control.

We fear beginning relationships and we fear ending them. We fear quitting jobs and we fear starting new ones. We fear gaining weight and we fear losing it. We fear staying stuck and we fear moving forward.

If we’re not careful, we can quickly fall into living a life of dread, in which we fear everything and anything.

It’s all in our minds: the fear and the reasons why we don’t move forward. It’s in our thoughts, our beliefs and the stories we tell ourselves.

The best thing about this is that we not only have the power, but endless opportunities to change everything.

Unless we change things, we feel anxious and on-edge. Our hearts ache and our souls cry because we live lives without purpose and meaning. We delay our sense of calm and happiness, as a life without regrets slips away from us.

It’s time.

Whatever it is that you know you have to do, begin. Go to the edge. Take one more step than you did yesterday. Acknowledge your fear, just don’t pay any attention to it.

Begin today. Begin today to heal your past. Update your resume. Replace a bad habit with a new one. Begin today and step out of your comfort zone. Write down a new idea. Audition for an acting gig. Write and practice a speech.

Change your physiology. Do some deep breathing. Improve your posture. Stand and sit in the right position. Smile and laugh. Take a walk. These simple acts will create pleasurable neural pathways in your brain that cause you to feel good and happy.

Own your magnificence. Really feel it in the depths of your soul. Make decisions from that place. Choose to accept yourself no matter what has happened in your past. What would your life look like if you never judged yourself again?

Don’t wait for approval. You only need to accept yourself. Give yourself the praise and encouragement you want from others. Some people don’t care. Everyone won’t like you. Others will let you down. Oh well, so what? Find the ones who do care.  There are seven billion people in the world, connect with the like-minded ones. Get over your fear.

Feel instantly abundant. Pay attention to the infinite riches all around you. Even if you lost all of your money or your highest paying job, you can still feel grateful. It’s the quickest way to move out of fear. Count the stars. Smell the flowers. Notice unlimited color. Wonder at the grains of sand. Stand in the ocean. Walk in the grass. Revel in nature.

Take regular digital breaks. Get up and stretch. Regroup. Eat without your phone. Shut off your electronics an hour before you go to bed every evening. Spend time in reflection before you get on social media. You get to choose how to spend your time. Honor yourself with stillness and peace. It’s a must.

Calm yourself. Fear is the lowest vibration you can sink into. Learn how to hold your own hand. Choose how you feel. Pick calm over stress. Choose joy over worry; happiness over drama. We all have the power to remain peaceful no matter what is going on in the external world.

Lean into your fear. Become curious. Wonder. Ponder. Accept. Breathe. Don’t let anything stop you. Fear is an illusion: a story that’s future oriented. It only exists in your mind. Release it and move on in a gentle manner.

You are an inventor. Create something new. Express yourself. Many people procrastinate because they doubt their talent and capabilities. Remember perfection doesn’t exist. Create something and improve upon it the next time. Believe that you can!

Track your success. Celebrate what goes right for you. Praise yourself for what you get right. Be your own best friend. When you make progress, acknowledge it. Dwell on it. Be happy for yourself and praise your efforts.

Enjoy life. Nobody knows for sure if they will fail or succeed. Nobody knows for sure what the future will hold. Nothing is predictable. But you can act in each moment. You can do your best. You can look for opportunities. You can love, and that’s enough. That’s the key to success.

Tess Marshall M.A. is founder of The Bold Life, but has retired from writing there.

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Thank you for your presence, I know your time is precious!  Don’t forget to sign up for my e-letter and get access to all the free self-development resources (e-books, mini-guides + worksheets) in the Always Well Within Library. May you be happy, well, and safe – always.  With love, Sandra