The Truth About Fear and Why It Doesn’t Mean You Should Stop

Oct 22

When I first started building my practice, fear showed up everywhere. Fear of raising my rates. Fear of saying no to clients who were not a fit. Fear of launching something new.

Each time fear surfaced, I wondered if it was a sign I should stop. Maybe I was not ready. Maybe I was not capable. Maybe this was the universe’s way of telling me I was out of alignment.

But over time, I learned something that changed everything: fear does not always mean stop. Often, fear is simply a sign that you are stretching into something new.

Where Fear Comes From

Fear is a natural response to uncertainty. Our nervous systems are wired to keep us safe, so when we step outside the familiar, fear gets loud. It whispers warnings like, “Stay small, stay safe, stay the same.”

For therapists, this often shows up as:

Fear of charging more because clients might leave
Fear of delegating because someone might make a mistake
Fear of reducing hours because income might drop
Fear of being visible online because someone might judge you

These fears feel real, but they are not always rooted in truth. Most often, they are rooted in the unknown.

The Difference Between Fear and Danger

One of the biggest lessons I learned was separating fear from actual danger.

Danger means harm is imminent. Fear means something is unfamiliar.

The danger of stepping into traffic is real. The fear of raising your rates is not. Yet the body often reacts to both in the same way. The key is learning to recognize the difference so you can keep moving forward even when fear is present.

Fear as a Compass

Instead of seeing fear as a stop sign, I began to see it as a compass. If fear showed up, it often meant I was standing at the edge of growth.

The first time I raised my rates, I was terrified. But that step gave me the stability I needed to stay in the field long term. The first time I said no to a misaligned client, I worried they would judge me. Instead, it freed space for the right clients to arrive. The first time I hired support, I feared letting go of control. But delegation gave me back hours of my life.

In each case, fear was not a warning to quit. It was an invitation to expand.

How to Move Forward Even When Fear Is Loud

1. Name It

Simply acknowledging fear takes away some of its power. Instead of resisting it, I learned to say, “This is fear, and it makes sense that I feel it.”

2. Get Curious

Ask yourself: what is this fear protecting me from? What story is it telling? Is that story actually true?

3. Take One Small Step

You do not have to leap all at once. You can take one small step toward the thing that scares you. Each action builds confidence and proves to your nervous system that you are safe.

4. Anchor in Support

Fear feels louder when you carry it alone. Talking with a mentor, supervisor, or community can normalize the fear and help you see possibilities you could not see by yourself.

What Happens on the Other Side of Fear

The moments I feared most were the ones that gave me the biggest breakthroughs. Raising my rates led to sustainability. Delegating gave me back time. Resting without guilt gave me energy. Showing up visibly online expanded my reach and impact.

Fear did not mean I was doing it wrong. It meant I was growing.

A Reframe for Therapists

Therapists are often taught to play it safe: keep your caseload full, keep your fees low, keep yourself invisible. But safety is not the same as sustainability.

Fear does not have to be your stop signal. Sometimes it is simply a sign you are on the right track, building a practice that aligns with your values and your vision.

Final Reflection

If fear is showing up in your business right now, pause and ask yourself:

Is this fear pointing to real danger, or just the discomfort of growth?
What small step could I take to test this new direction?
How might my business expand if I moved forward instead of shrinking back?

Fear is not the enemy. It is a messenger. It tells you that you are stepping into new territory. And in that territory, there is room for freedom, sustainability, and impact.

So the next time fear shows up, do not assume it means stop. Ask yourself what it might mean if it is actually pointing you forward.