What if fear was pointing you in the right direction?
Explore overcoming financial fear to discover smarter financial decisions. Greeley Wealth helps physicians turn uncertainty into confidence.
“In the absence of real and present danger, the voice of fear is almost a perfect indicator of which direction to go – as long as you head the other way” – Brian Whetten
What If Fear Wasn’t a Red Light?
This year, I am using fear to guide my decisions. But not in the way we traditionally think. I am trying to make friends with my fear, acknowledge and listen to how fear is trying to protect me, and then move forward.
Our best and biggest lives are waiting on the other side of fear. Change, whether positive or negative, feels uncomfortable. Yet, it is within our comfort zone that we slowly but surely die.
Familiar Isn’t Always Fulfilling
We fail to have that difficult conversation with our spouse because it would be hard, and it may hurt their feelings.
We stopped working out because it was too difficult to wake up early and too painful to keep lifting weights.
We stay in a job that’s just “good enough” even though we’ve long since stopped learning or developing new skills. It pays well, and we can’t afford to quit.
I’m sure you could think of a few more examples that hit closer to home.
What life could you create if you leaned into discomfort? How would your life be bigger and more incredible?
I’m not talking about constant hustle, the grind, or the infinite ways our current lives can cause us to burn out.
That Dream That Won’t Leave You Alone
Instead, what’s that idea or dream living at the back of your mind, taking up space? Maybe it’s living abroad with your family for a year. I’ve talked with many of you about my strong desire to move overseas.
Or maybe it’s getting in shape and running the New York or Tokyo marathon. For some of you, it might be starting a family.
For others, it may be taking a different job that is more fulfilling or creates more time for you and your family, even if that job pays significantly less than you currently earn.
Ancient Instincts, Modern Triggers
For our ancestors, fear was survival. Fear allowed you to hear the rustle in the jungle and run. And so, fear was passed down for generations.
Today, when we feel that tingle of fear, our chance of physical harm or death is slight to nonexistent. More likely, what is happening is that we feel a threat to our identity or comfort. But the fear shows up the same way.
What if we trained ourselves to think that this feeling of fear is where the growth happens? These moments are the decisions where you get to create a purposeful and spectacular life.
Learning to listen to what our fear is saying takes time and practice. We’ve been accustomed to reacting rather than moving forward intentionally. Slow down, and have a conversation with your fear. Acknowledge that your fear wants to protect and keep you safe.
When Money Mirrors Fear
What does this conversation have to do with finance? Fear can take countless forms. For some, it prevents them from building wealth when they refuse to confront their debt and current financial situation.
For others, market crashes give them all the excuses never to invest. I still remember an OR conversation with a surgical colleague who sold her entire portfolio during the bottom of the crash of 2008. And she never invested again! Not only did she get out at the bottom of the market, but she also missed one of the most sustained bull markets during our lifetimes.
The Endless Chase for ‘Enough’
One of the most common and insidious ways fear shows up is for those who have made great decisions and saved prodigiously. They have enough. They have more than enough. And yet, they continue to work, grind, earn, and save more.
The fear tells them they will lose everything, so they keep working, thinking that the next horizon will finally be the magic number that makes them feel safe and secure. Except when they reach that next goal, the goalposts shift.
And while working “one more year” has significant advantages, there are hidden costs. Time with family and loved ones isn’t guaranteed. Illness, disability, loss. We never know when it’s coming. And time is our most precious resource.
What Real Security Looks Like
So here’s the lesson: Security is not a number. Security is a feeling. Knowing that you can figure it out, whatever comes your way. It’s knowing that you are intelligent and creative. You’ve built a network and community to support you. This is the most impactful work we do together at Greeley Wealth.
