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Author: [[C.J. Hayden]] Full Title: Overcoming the Fear of Self-Promotion Category: #books One: That’s what I learned about fear that now I try to teach other people. Courage is not the absence of fear; it’s the ability to take action while feeling afraid. You can feel afraid and still move forward; you can feel resistant and still do what it is that you’re resisting. Here’s what was tripping them up. Self-promotion has a special aspect for people like you who market their own services. When you promote your business, you are actually promoting yourself—you become the product. So, every time you try to get a client, engage a referral source, or land a contract, you expose yourself on a personal level to the possibility of rejection, disapproval, or failure. When a prospective client declines to do business with you or simply doesn’t return your email or call, it can make you feel personally rejected—as if there is something wrong with you as a person. Intellectually, you may understand that the person who says no to you is just making a business decision. But emotionally, you may feel unwanted, abandoned, or even attacked.

1. I am Aware. Begin by raising your awareness of what’s happening. Say to yourself, “I’m aware that I’m afraid of making this phone call,” or “I’m aware that I’m resisting going to that networking event,” or “Wow, there’s the fear again.” This gives you an explanation for what’s going on. Creating compassionate awareness of whatever is going on is the first step. 2. I Accept. Next, tell yourself, “I accept that I’m afraid.” Or, “I accept that I’m feeling resistant.” Name what you’re aware of and declare that you accept it. Perhaps in the past, you denied that those feelings existed, or pretended they weren’t present. With awareness, you’re no longer denying or pretending. With acceptance, you’re not trying to push past the feelings. Instead, you are acknowledging that they exist, and allowing them to be present. I can Move ahead. Once you have become aware of how you feel, and have accepted that you feel that way, you can then to choose to move ahead, despite how you feel. Say, “I am able to make this call anyway.” Or, “I can go to that event even though I’m feeling resistant right now.” Declare your choice to move ahead whether or not you fully believe

AI Summary

Overcoming the Fear of Self-Promotion by C.J. Hayden presents wisdom from the contemplative traditions.

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