For many copywriters, the transition to becoming a copywriter is filled with the fears that come with any major life change: inadequacy, uncertainty, being judged, and, the overall fear of failure.
In the The Bravest You: 5 Steps to Fight Your Biggest Fears, Find Your Passion, and Unlock Your Extraordinary Life, author Adam Kirk Smith breaks down these common fears and six others: rejection, missing out, change, losing control, something bad happening, and getting hurt.
Just as important as offering actionable tips for overcoming these 10 common fears, Smith demystifies the bravery process, breaking down the peaks and valleys that we all go through on the journey towards bravery.
The first stage, complacency, is where a lot of people get stuck and stay. It’s the area where we try to “play it safe,” long before we even experience fear in any form. If you’re experiencing fear, it means you’re taking steps toward your goal and that’s a good thing, as much as our fears trick our minds into thinking we need to run for safety.
With that framework in mind, Smith leads us through some of the most common fears that tend to crop up again and again (particularly when we’re doing something that is important to us). Smith lays out actionable steps that help us shift our perception of our inadequacies, remember there is no such thing as failure, become comfortable with rejection, among other small but powerful changes.
“…feeling of inadequacy … stemmed from the fact that I was just starting out and didn’t have any practice. I was comparing myself to people who already had years of experience … I was confused about why I wasn’t there yet … comparison is a friend to the fear of inadequacy and practice is its enemy.”
Adam Kirk Smith – The bravest You
Much like yoga instructors always call it a “practice,” we can remember that we’re continually “practicing” to improve how we approach not only our copy projects and processes, but the entire way we approach our personal and professional lives. If we can practice shifting our mindset ever so slightly and continually take action, we can move through our fears and, while not completely eliminating them, know how to prevent them from derailing our success.
Your Turn! What are your tips for working through common fears like inadequacy and uncertainty?
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This sounds like an awesome book, Kate. I learned of the 5-second rule in the early stages of the CCA. I bought that book, and it has served me well with getting myself up and moving when doubt creeps in.
Wonderful! I’m glad to hear it’s been a good resource for you.