Imagine the life you want. What kind of car is in the driveway? What does the house look like? More importantly, what’s the feeling in your heart when you wake up in the morning? Now, what would your world look like if you finally let go of the fear holding you back?

For so many of us trying to build something of our own, one question hangs over us like a heavy cloud: “What if?”

It’s a question that can paralyze us. It shows up in a dozen different ways:

• “What if I take this leap and I don’t succeed?”
• “What if I put myself out there on social media and just embarrass myself?”
• “What if it’s crazy to think I can actually achieve financial freedom?”
• “What if this isn’t even the right idea to begin with?”

These questions feel heavy because they’re rooted in fear. But there’s another kind of “what if” living inside you, too—one born from love and possibility.

• “What if I could pay for my kids to go to college without stress?”
• “What if my partner could quit the job they hate because of what I build?”
• “What if I can actually do this?”

These are the powerful questions that create tangible realities. As Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” My goal is to show you that you can. Changing your perspective is the foundation of entrepreneurial mindset development.

Reclaiming Your Inner Dialogue

How much of your day is spent entertaining those doubt-filled questions that keep you playing small? It’s time to stop validating them. The first step in personal empowerment and self-discovery is to recognize these negative patterns. Think about it: what are three negative, fear-based questions you ask yourself regularly?

Got them? Now, say goodbye.

Whenever those thoughts pop into your head, acknowledge them and let them go. You can even say it out loud: “Thank you, I hear you, but goodbye.” Then, replace them with questions that open up possibilities instead of shutting them down.

• Instead of "What if it doesn't work?" try "What if I could create exactly what I want?"
• Instead of "What if I fail?" ask "What would open up for me if I achieved this?"
• Instead of "What if I'm not good enough?" focus on "How amazing will life be when I make this happen?"

Take a moment and come up with three positive questions you can use to replace the old negative ones. This isn't just about positive thinking; it's about actively rewiring your brain for success.

Where Fear Really Comes From

I know what you might be thinking: “I can’t just help how I feel!” But feelings don’t just appear out of nowhere; they are the direct product of our thoughts, which are shaped by our experiences. The formula is simple:

Past Experience → Creates a Thought → Creates a Feeling

As a business owner, your feelings are critical. A negative outlook on your business or life is like trying to grow a garden in a blizzard—it just won’t work. When you operate from a place of fear, your bank account gets scared, too. Understanding this connection is a key part of improving your financial psychology and abundance.

When I was getting ready to start my life coaching business, I was terrified of being made fun of. I wanted to go live on Facebook and write blog posts about my experiences, but I was gripped by the fear of being judged.

That fear was born from one thought: “What if people make fun of me?”

That thought wasn’t random. My ego generated it based on a lifetime of experiences. When I did some deep inner work, I realized I had a long list of moments where I put myself out there and was met with rejection. A boyfriend told me I shared too much on social media. In high school, I was told I was “too open.” When I was seven, my crush told me I was “too weird” to be his friend.

These seemingly small moments created a deep-seated belief that expressing myself would lead to pain.

Common Fears and Their Hidden Roots

You’re not crazy for feeling this way; you’re human. We all have a backlog of fear-inducing thoughts rooted in our past. Over the years, I’ve seen some common patterns:

• “I’m scared of putting myself out there.” This often comes from being told as a child that you shouldn’t or couldn’t express yourself.
• “I’m scared of not making money.” This can be traced back to parents who taught you that money was scarce, hard to earn, or a source of pain.
• “I’m scared I don’t have enough expertise.” This fear is often linked to being told you weren’t good enough at something between the ages of 2 and 12.
• “I’m worried I can’t be a good parent and a business owner.” This may stem from a childhood where success meant a parent was never around.
• “I’m worried I just can’t do it.” This belief is often installed by someone who told you to play small and not take risks.

If you dig deep enough, you’ll find that nearly every emotional block holding you back from strategic business growth stems from experiences you had growing up.

A Challenge to Reframe Your Reality

Ready to fix this? Let's turn those fear-inspired beliefs into empowerment-inspired ones.

Step 1: Identify and Understand Your Fears Take a moment to write out your deepest fears related to your business. Acknowledge them in a full sentence. For example: “I’m afraid of being vulnerable because I might be made fun of or disappoint my family.” Then, underneath that sentence, try to identify four concrete examples from your past where you were hurt in a similar situation.

Step 2: Rewrite Your Beliefs Now, take each fear-based sentence and rewrite it as a powerful, empowering statement that inspires you. For example: “I love being vulnerable because it allows me to connect with people who need my help.” This isn't about ignoring the fear; it's about choosing a more useful belief.

Step 3: Find Your New Truth Finally, underneath your new empowering sentence, write down four concrete pieces of evidence that prove it's true. This final step is crucial for shifting your perception and making your new belief feel real.

This process of personal empowerment and self-discovery is the real work behind building a successful life and business. By understanding where your fears come from, you can finally take away their power and start building the future you truly want.