How Your Fear Disguises Itself as Logic
Read if you want to…
Discover how your rational thoughts might actually be fear.
Understand why fear disguises itself.
Reflect on how fear might be driving your decisions.
Fear can be really sneaky. Sometimes it’s glaringly obvious that fear is stopping you and other times you’re caught up in never ending excuses that feel logical but really, they’re just keeping you stuck.
It’s not the right time.
I should save more money first.
Things are too busy right now, I’ll start once things calm down at work.
While these perfectly reasonable sounding statements feel rational, it’s actually your fear finding another excuse to keep you exactly where you are. And the more you listen to these excuses, the more you stay stuck. Because there will always be another logical excuse your mind will find to keep you safe.
Why Fear Pretends to Be Logic
Your brain’s job is to keep you safe. Not to help you grow. This means doing what you’ve always done and being who you’ve always been. New = scary.
So it comes up with reasons that feel true enough to stop you from taking the leap. When it shows up as rational thinking it’s much harder for you to argue with it.
The problem is, waiting keeps you stuck.
I’ve seen this in myself and in my clients. The longer you let fear-as-logic drive you, the more frustrated, resentful and disconnected you feel.
You’re not avoiding discomfort. You’re extending it.
And this isn’t about never listening to your logical brain. It can be incredibly helpful to be able to think rationally in some situations and plan accordingly.
But the key is learning to tell the difference between supportive logic and protective fear. That’s how you stop delaying and start building momentum.
Is Fear Driving Your Decisions?
What’s the story I keep telling myself about why now isn’t the right time?
➜ Does this story feel true or just familiar?
If I knew it would work out, what would I do differently this week?
➜ Notice how fast your truth shows up before fear interrupts.
What feels “logical” right now?
➜ And what might that logic be protecting me from?
When I imagine taking action, what’s the first physical reaction I notice in my body?
➜ Tight chest, shallow breath, racing thoughts are key signs of fear.
If I stopped waiting for certainty, what small next step could I take anyway?
➜ Remember certainty grows when you take action.
What’s the real cost of staying where I am another six months?
➜ It can feel like fear keeps you safe but often it keeps you miserable.
Fear is sneaky. It loves to borrow the voice of reason.
And the biggest problem I see is people get so deep in their rational excuses that they can’t tell it’s actually fear.
That is why coaching is so impactful as it holds up a mirror and allows someone external to your circle to notice where you’re keeping yourself small. This is one of the key reasons people work with me. If they could do it on their own they would but they know it will be so much easier and quicker to get that one-to-one support.
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