aYou might think that success means never having to deal with fear making unannounced visits to your door.

But it just doesn’t work that way.

If you’re growing (and I know you are), reaching higher (which I know you’re doing) and pushing your boundaries, at some point a real showstopper of a ‘nasty’ is going to plop into your lap.

And whisper, “Who the hell do you think you are? And just what do you think you’re doing?”

It’s irrational. Unpredictable. And confounding.

The goal is not preventing fear from ever making a guest appearance. But never allowing it have the final word.

And here are five reliable responses I’ve collected over the years that have helped turn blocks into breakthroughs:

Starbucks is my satellite office.

And when my mind starts racing with the haze of all the things that could go wrong, getting away to my favorite Starbucks (or a new one I’ve never been to) quiets the noise, helps me see things as they really are, and moves me into action instead of just stewing in it.

Your favorite place might be a neighborhood cafe, a library or even a food park.

But I’m always surprised (and profoundly grateful) the calming effect a simple change of surroundings can have.

You’re going to totally think I’ve lost it …

But when I’m feeling apprehensive or blocked about moving ahead, writing an email, sales page or blog post really helps.

Why?

I enjoy writing. Doing it slows my brain down, and connects me with something I really enjoy.

When you immerse yourself in one of your strengths and surrender to it, you’re not only reminded of how much you have to offer, but are filled with a sense of your own value and competence.

And those crazy fear pangs start to feel like a distant whisper instead of an incessant roar.

Getting out to the gym (or having a workout to look forward to) is a great way to get out of your head and into your body.

It helps your mind escape from the dark fantasies of what you’re afraid might happen and connects you to what’s actually happening:

Lifting.
Sweating.
Stretching.

Workouts and anything physical (even a brisk walk) are great pattern interrupts for negative thoughts, and a quick way to tap into your internal energy to elevate your mood, outlook and creativity.

I recently asked a millionaire business owner the key to their success, and her answer surprised me.

“Desperation!” she said. “I was a single Mom with kids to feed, and I didn’t want them going without.”

Yep, compared with feeding your kids, making a few phone calls after a networking event, or prepping that next webinar is small potatoes.

Having a worthy goal that is profoundly powerful, that you are driven to achieve can do a lot to short circuit your fear.

You may even find yourself taking action before you remember, “Oh, I’m supposed to be afraid of this.”

Sometimes what really stops us is knowing the action we are afraid to take moves us closer to a situation that scares us even more.

“If I finish this sales page, that means I’m actually going to have to move ahead with my launch!”

Yep, that sounds crazy. But fear can be irrational.

You know good things can happen too. But that doesn’t stop the scary stuff from playing an endless loop, in the YouTube theater of your mind.

When you are stuck because your mind is racing into the future, dissolve the logjam by breaking down the task into simple steps you can do without fear:

• “Can I log into WordPress?” YES
• “Can I go to the sales page inside WordPress?  YES!
• “Can I navigate to the place in the page where I need to make my first edit?”  YES

Suddenly, I’m into action. I’m into flow.

And boom! The sales page is done before I had a chance to remember what I was afraid of.

I call this “The Rule of Threes”: If you can find 3 small simple actions you’re not afraid to do, suddenly you’re into a flow that supersedes and overpowers any sense of anxiety about that task.

And instead of scaring yourself with all the things that could go wrong, your swept up in a much more pleasurable loop of what could go right.

Fear and flow can’t exist in the same place at the same time.

Flow is fear’s Kryptonite. It’s like one of those Super Munchers in the old Pac-Man game that eats fear alive. It’s the all-powerful antidote that is your key to getting through your block.

Most importantly, any method that connects you more directly with your own flow, easily and in the moment, is most effective way to flip your frame of reference:

From a place where it feels like the sky is falling, to a grounded place where you truly feel everything is going to be all right.

If you know a friend or colleague who might be in need of a boost to get through a fear block, feel free to forward this post to them.

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