Overcoming fear of taking risks as a woman

When I was preparing to leave the military for the uncharted waters of entrepreneurship, I was terrified. Here's how I pushed through self-doubt and took action (and so can you): Acknowledge your fears ⤵ • Identify specific concerns • Write them down to gain perspective • Remember that discomfort often signals growth. Reframe the risk ⤵ • Consider the long-term consequences of inaction • Evaluate if worst-case scenarios are likely or permanent • Focus on potential gains rather than losses. Interrupt negative thought patterns ⤵ • Take a deep breath • Label the thought as unhelpful • Consciously shift to a more constructive mindset Summon your support system ⤵ • Imagine what advice they'd give • Draw strength from their belief in you • Reach out to real-life mentors or friends if needed. Choose courage over comfort ⤵ • Start with small, manageable steps • Celebrate each bit of progress • Build confidence through repeated exposure. Follow this framework, and with time, you'll develop the resilience to pursue your goals confidently. Using this framework, I've: • Had many firsts • Authored two children's books and have more in the works • Delivered speeches to tens of thousands in the US and internationally • Launched my Badass Masterclass • Created time and financial flexibility for myself • Found something I'm passionate about Overcoming self-doubt is a skill that improves with practice, but the discomfort of uncertainty is worth the rewards. What's one goal you've been hesitating to pursue due to self-doubt? ------------------------ Hi, I'm Michelle. I'm a former fighter pilot turned speaker, author, and coach. If you found this helpful, consider reposting ♻️ and follow me for more content like this.

For 9 years, I had the "perfect" corporate tech job. Benefits. Status. Security. But every Sunday night, that familiar knot in my stomach returned as I questioned: "Is this all there is?" Like many accomplished women, I was caught between comfort and calling. Four years into my corporate career, I asked for help. A mentor posed one powerful question: "What's truly holding you back?" The truth? It wasn't a lack of talent or opportunity. It was knowing that hard work didn't guarantee promotions, that sucking up still got you ahead, and having a bad manager in a toxic work environment created self-doubt about my abilities. It was the fear of knowing I was holding myself back. So I created a side passion project, something to help others. That project became the 2B Bolder podcast. What started as a creative outlet turned into a journey of self-discovery. I began interviewing bold, brilliant women who had walked their own path through uncertainty, fear, and growth. And something shifted: As I amplified their voices, I began to find my own. Fast forward to today: ✨ 125+ interviews with incredible women leaders ✨ Ranked in top 3% of global podcasts ✨ A thriving community of women supporting women ✨ Countless messages about how these stories changed careers Now, I guide other high-achieving women to move past their fears and into their full potential. Whether it's launching a passion project, owning their expertise, or leveraging LinkedIn for real opportunities, we tackle the mindset and strategy piece by piece. Because fear doesn't go away, but it doesn't have to be in charge. If you're feeling that Sunday night knot in your stomach, know this: Your restlessness is trying to tell you something. Listen. Ready to be inspired? Discover more stories of women who dared at 2bbolder.com/podcasts #2BBolder #CareerGrowth #InspiringWomen #WomenInTech #WomenInBusiness

TO CREATE THE LIFE YOU DESIRE, YOU MUST CULTIVATE COURAGE.   I travel alone a lot. I plan it, pay for it, & enjoy every precious moment of each adventure.   A lot of people are astonished by my solo travel. When I’m dining alone, I often meet people that say, “you’re so brave” because of it and I smile, thinking, if they only knew what I’ve been through to get here.   When you’ve faced & overcome the challenges I have:   ·      Abuse ·      Rebuilding life after divorce ·      Single parenting 3 kids ·      Digging out of tremendous debt ·      Raising a son with learning differences ·      Creating and building 2 LLC’s ·      Traversing serious health issues   And other difficulties, you gain courage & confidence.   With each win, your confidence grows until you feel courageous & capable of overcoming any fear you face.   Which is empowering and exciting, but to do so, you need actual tactics and tools, not just a powerful mindset.   So, how do you actually overcome your fears?   Here are some proven ways that my clients and I, along with the clients of some of the world’s best coaches and psychologists COURAGEOUSLY CONQUER FEAR:   🎯 Self-Awareness: Identify & develop a deep understanding of your fears & capabilities.   🎯 Cognitive Restructuring: Reframe negative thoughts & beliefs associated with fear-inducing situations. Work with a qualified coach or therapist to challenge irrational thinking patterns and replace them with more constructive thoughts.   🎯 Affirmation: Adopt positive affirmations, such as “I can identify and overcome my fears” & “I believe in my ability to solve any problem I face“   🎯Gradual Exposure: Utilize systematic desensitization by gradually facing your fears in manageable steps. By incrementally increasing exposure to situations that evoke fear, you can decrease your triggers, reduce anxiety and bolster courage.   🎯 Guided Visualization: Vividly visualize yourself successfully navigating challenging situations. Mental rehearsal creates a sense of familiarity and preparedness that will increase your confidence & courage.   🎯 Grace: Cultivating courage is process that you must practice every time you face a challenge. It’s important to offer yourself grace when fear takes over & temporarily grips you. None of us are fully immune to fear; some of us have simply have more experience with the tools to conquer it.   🎯 Faith: Your faith can give you the courage you need to face your greatest fears & overcome your challenges.   The next time you face seemingly insurmountable levels of fear, try some of these tools to cultivate courage, move beyond & create a life you love!   I’m curious…   👉What do you do to cultivate courage in your life?   #personaldevelopment #future #success

If you stop through the storms, you will stop through every thing in life. What meaningful turtle step can you take in this moment, that will boost your confidence during uncertain times? In times of uncertainty, we can find it very challenging to maintain our poise and confidence. It can be a challenge to assure ourselves, that "we got this". However, I have learned that by taking turtle steps that are meaningful, I can build self-assurance and reframe my thoughts when I stand in a storm, and facing uncertainty. It's the weekend, and #linkedinfam #LinkedInwomen I want to share six actionable steps you can take today to boost confidence during uncertainty: 1) Set achievable goals: Start with the small bites. Break the overwhelming large goals down into small ones. Focus on the things you know you can achieve and gradually increase them. The bite sizes are what I call Turtle Steps 🐢. 2) Give yourself compassion: This one can be the hardest to do. As women, we tend to fear judgment. But what if you treat yourself with kindness? When facing setbacks, uncertainty and challenges be kind to yourself. Acknowledge how far you've come and the efforts and progress you've made. Self-compassion builds resilience. 3) Leap forward and out of the comfort zone: We can't grow in stagnancy. Challenge yourself to do one small thing, one day at a time. Do one small thing that scares you. The one thing that makes you cry out loud "I am scared, but I am still going to do it". It helps you build on new skills and live through the experiences. 4) Personal growth: This is the path to self-discovery. Focusing on your personal development will help you acquire new skills and learn new things about yourself. Be willing to expand your knowledge by taking on a continuous learning journey. 5) Adapt the Positive Talkaton: You are not crazy when you talk to yourself in a positive way. So practice awareness and monitor your inner dialogue. Challenge yourself to reframe your negative thoughts into positive ones. 6) Seek support where experience is lived: Surround yourself with those who can understand you, and teach you. Be open to welcome feedbacks that are constructive that can help you grow. Seek a community of like-minded where support can bolster your confidence. I guarantee this, when you incorporate these turtle steps into your daily routines, you won't fear uncertainty nor expect validation from others. You will gradually cultivate confidence. Live through the experiences amidst uncertain times. Embrace the process of transformation. I am Nadeje Montes, M.S.Ed Your Executive Coach and Confidence Strategist. #womensday #womensempowerment #confidencecoach