Scary Academic Stuff: 5 Ways to Get Over Your Fears

Dear Real Academics,



If you live in the United States, Halloween is around the corner, and in other parts of the world you may have similar/related holidays. Consequently, it's hard to not be thinking of things like "scary" and "fear" (even if you do so in a fun/lighthearted way).

Instead of dwelling in the darkness, I'd like shed some light by way of solutions.

Academia is not devoid of fears. Here's a running list that could generalize to other aspects of life and work.

Not being smart enough.
Not belonging.
Not graduating.
Not getting a job.
Not publishing.
Not getting tenure.
Not being able to find happiness or purpose at work.

If you can relate to any of the above, read on for 5 ways to help you get over your fear(s).


(1) NAME YOUR FEAR(S).

Specifically naming and acknowledging the fear is step one to getting over your fear.

Use the list above to name any fears or specify them further. The more specific, the better.


(2) SHARE YOUR FEAR(S) WITH SOMEONE YOU TRUST.

This one is might be really hard, but it's also important. It may also be that you need someone to help you specify your fear. Find someone you trust to share your fear. 

If you don't have someone, consider talking with us. 

We are your neutral third party. No ego. No competition. No ties. No sharing with anyone. Just here to listen and help you problem-solve for your success. 

And you know what? Whatever you share is likely something we've gone through, too. We've been graduate students, academic job seekers, academic professors, and entrepreneurs.

If you want to get to know us more first, we get it. Watch our videos, read more of our blog posts, read our testimonials page, and/or set up a free consultation with us. Take your time.


(3) PROBLEM-SOLVE YOUR FEARS.

Again, we can help you problem-solve your specific fear(s) through our coaching services.
(Note that we are not therapists, but we will talk about where you are now and ways you can practically move forward).

And/or...read the next two points to help start problem-solving your fear(s) on your own:


(4) GET PERSPECTIVE.

First, to be clear, I am not a fan of that little cartoon of the tortoise that is upside down saying, "I'm flying", with a caption that says "optimism". If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here, say "awww" if so inclined, and make sure to finishing reading this post! I promise there's a positive spin. ☺

To me, the first thought that comes to mind is, "That tortoise is going to die if it doesn't change something (or someone helps it)."

I've owned pet tortoises before...

Yah, I am very much in the realist camp. However, I also realize that I need to work on my perspective. 

For example, say that I'm afraid of not getting tenure. OK. That was a legitimate fear, especially since I was in place where the standards, reporting systems, leadership, and politics were ever shifting.

In addition, everyone going through the tenure process around me was freaking out (like saying they were going to end up homeless under a bridge -- I kid you not).

This kind of environment generated a lot of fear for me as an untenured, assistant professor.

But...here's what I should have done immediately. I should shifted my perspective by asking myself:

  • What if I DO get tenure? or
  • What if I DON'T get tenure and I get to do something different?
Fast forward, I did get tenure. And, soon after, I decided I wanted to do something different (and exciting and adventurous) and I did!

So, there we go. All that early fear was a waste of energy.

If you can shift your perspective and ask the

  • "What if POSITIVE OUTCOME?" or
  • "What if ALTERNATE OUTCOME?" questions, 

I promise you'll be a much happier and productive and pleasant-to-be-around person.


(5) TAKE ACTION.

Once you've specifically named your fear, shared with someone you trust, and shifted your perspective (hopefully with some help), it's time to take action.

How?

  • Refuse to dwell in that fear.

  • Hang onto your "What if POSITIVE OUTCOME?" or "What if ALTERNATE OUTCOME?" question. Say it to yourself over and over whenever the fear creeps in.

  • Then, go out there and live your life without the fear. 
(If you need/want help creating actionable steps individualized to you, contact us).

Without the fear, you'll be able to live with:

  • Greater confidence.

  • More openness to possibilities.

  • A growth-mindset vs. a fixed mindset.

  • True positivity vs. fake optimism.

What are you waiting for, Real Academics? Go live fearlessly! We know you can do it!

What is/has been one of your greatest academic fears and how are you overcoming/did you overcome it?

If and only if you feel comfortable sharing, please email us at inforealacademics@gmail.com and/or post a comment on social media. 

If you email us, we keep things in the strictest of confidence and share only as general points to help others if appropriate.

Until next time, happy writing, productivity, and truth-seeking,

Maggie

  • At Real Academics we help individuals be joyful, productive, and successful in their academic, learning, and life pursuits. Find out more about us and what we can do alongside you at www.therealacademics.com. 

  • We love to hear from you! Send us an email at inforealacademics@gmail.com.

  • If you have not subscribed to the Real Academics Newsletter, you'll want to do that today and not miss out on news, resources, and ideas to help with your writing productivity and academic journey.

  • If you found this post helpful, please SHARE it with a friend/colleague. 

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