#6 What if the biggest thing holding us back isn’t real?

One of the things I'm enjoying most about running my own business is deliberately making more time and space to learn.
This week, whilst on my daily walks, I have swapped music for podcasts. Just yesterday I came across an interview with Peter Crone, The Mind Architect . During the interview he described fear as "False Evidence Appearing Real"
That one sentence really resonated, and stayed with me long after the walk had finished.
I couldn't help thinking about how fear can show up in the workplace.
Over the years, I've noticed that many of the biggest barriers we face at work begin with the stories we tell ourselves, rather than reality.
The colleague who stays quiet because they're convinced they'll say the wrong thing.
The new leader who doubts they're ready for the role.
The manager who avoids a difficult conversation because they fear making things worse.
Or the woman experiencing menopause who quietly wonders if she's no longer capable, when in reality she's navigating one of life's biggest transitions.
Those stories feel so real.
They influence our confidence, our decisions , our behaviours, and, sometimes, our careers.
But they aren't always true.
It made me wonder just how many opportunities are missed because we spend more time listening to our fears rather than challenging them.
Perhaps instead of thinking "What if I fail ?", we should be thinking "What if I fly?"
My conclusion ?
Sometimes, the biggest barrier isn't what's in front of us.
It's the story we've already written in our own minds.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Julie