Jason Biller is the Founder and Principal Counsellor of the Anxiety Anonymous (AA), a variation of the popular Alcoholics Anonymous, but aimed at helping corporate employees dealing with fear and workplace anxiety in his weekly meetings. The meetings take the form of the Alcoholics Anonymous, where attendees get to tell their names, their problems, their last struggle and what they are doing about it…

Attendees in today’s meeting included Fatima, a broadcast Journalist, Mikel, a Finance Analyst, Tom, a HR generalist, and Sheila, his girlfriend, a Private Banking Rep…

“Hi guys, my name is Fatima.”

“Hi Fatima,” they all chorused.

“I am a Broadcast Journalist with TVCT. I struggle with stage fright, and since after my training, I have been unable to pass my assessment for television as a result”, Fatima reeled out almost in one breath…

Next was Mikel, newbie Finance Analyst with a Tax Consulting company. He struggled with indecision and impostor syndrome…

Tom, on his part, battled with a severe fear of embarrassment. He was constantly on the edge, afraid of embarrassing himself when he speaks or when he writes…

Finally, it was Sheila’s turn, and her fear was slightly different.

“My name is Sheila, and I am Androphobic.” Androphobia is known as the fear of men, and in Sheila’s job as a Private Banking Representative, where majority of her clients are men, this is tough.

After their introductions, Jason spoke on a topic he titled ‘Why fear will cripple your career’, addressing the anxiety and fear elements of all the attendees…

Friend, according to American Psychology Association, fear is a rational reaction to a potentially dangerous event or object. However, there are ‘irrational fears’ that have placed a lid on your potentials over the years. The best way to begin to overcome them is by properly dissecting what those fears are.

There are many innovative ideas that have been killed by the fear of failure… There are many openings for growth that shyness has robbed us of… Learning opportunities have been lost… Leadership chances have slipped away, and so on.

In Psychology, the method to dealing with irrational fears is called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). According to the MedicalNewsToday.com, it is a short-term therapy technique that can help people find new ways to behave by changing their thought patterns. CBT is said to rest on the assumption the way people think and interpret life’s events affects how they behave and feel.

Friend, this is it. A lot of the fears that are limiting you are simply in your mind. Trying to think differently simply changes your experience. You become bolder, more daring, more open, more and more, if you can master altering and interrogating those limiting thoughts.

It is time for you to take charge of the outcomes of your career by these simple steps: Dissect every limiting thought, push new boundaries always, then step back and draw the lessons.

You can win, friend.

Cheers to you.