Afraid of the Unknown

Do You Avoid the Unknown? 7 Biggest Reasons People Are Afraid of the Unknown

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Can you take the first step without knowing all the details? Will you venture even when you can’t see way down the road? A common sign that you are afraid of the unknown is when you ask questions like: “What if this happens? “What if that happens?” “What if that doesn’t happen?” “What will my friends think?” The real question you need to be asking is “am I avoiding the unknown?”

Naturally, we are wired to need an answer for anything that happens. To the extent that when answers are not forthcoming, panic, worry and unrest set in. Interestingly, this innate fear of the unknown in humans has led to numerous superstitious beliefs and conspiracy theories. While many are afraid of the unknown, to some the unknown is a compelling opportunity to discover, explore or investigate.

What is the unknown?

Simply put, the unknown is any uncertainty or unpredictable that could trigger fear in you.

A few examples of the unknown include:

  • the future
  • moving alone to a new place with no family, no friends and no job prospects
  • driving through a dense fog
  • taking a new job or starting a new business
  • starting new relationships or ending existing relationships
  • getting married
  • buying a house
  • starting a family and raising kids

Note: Being afraid of the unknown is not right or wrong! It all depends on your outlook on life.

Why People Are Afraid of the Unknown:

Here are the 7 biggest reasons some of us fear the unknown:

1. Loss of Stability

How do you feel about packing up and moving to a new city where you don’t know anyone? Is the mere thought of starting all over enough to shut you down? It’s no question that a lot of people are resistant to change. Hence, many will suffer at a job that sucks life out of them. Or endure abuse from people they would be better off walking away from. Usually because people are afraid of the unknown. You hear things like: “what if I don’t succeed?” “What if I remain single for life?” “The grass is not always greener on the other side.”

2. Lack of Self-confidence

For the most part, you don’t think you have what it takes. You don’t trust yourself enough. Mostly, when it comes to making new moves you doubt yourself and believe you will fail. The good news is that you’re not alone! A good number of people feel insecure due to lack of self-confidence.

Typically, constant self-doubt is an indication that you lack self-confidence. As a result, you will always find a way to avoid the uncertainties and unpredictable situations that come your way.

If you’re struggling with self-confidence and would like to overcome your self-doubt, read this super transformational book by Jen Sincero

3. Lack of Self-awareness

When the now or never opportunities come your way, do you shut yourself out because you are afraid of the unknown? Your self-awareness will enable you to experience your uniqueness. Basically, through self-awareness you empower yourself to change things about you. Hence, paving the way to create the life you want despite the uncertainties along the way.

Self awareness is about learning to better understand why you feel what you feel and why you behave in a particular way. – Warwick Counselling Service.

When you are self-aware, you accept your flaws and weaknesses while focusing on your strengths. Also, you have a clear understanding of who you are and you are conscious what you’re good at. Above all, lack of self-awareness traps you in the shadow of a life that is not true to who you are.

4. Familiarity

Familiarity can be very comfortable. You know everyone and everyone knows you. Remember, what you are used to can keep you away from getting what you deserve. Therefore, never allow your comfort to stop you from reaching your full potential.
Not to mention, you will never know what you’re capable of unless you try. In fact, people who are always stuck in their silos are likely to see everything outside their silo as dangerous.
“You have to get outside of your comfort zone if you’re going to make significant changes in your life, and since few things scare people like the unknown, feeling fear is an excellent sign that you’re on the right track.” – Jen Sincero

In essence, the known things are safe and are deemed not risky. On the other hand, most people are risk-averse and perceive the unknown as risky.

5. Lack of Control

Speaking of control, it’s not easy to control that which you do not know. Yes, there are ways to mitigate negative impacts. However, when there is absolutely no way to control any given event, the default response for some is panic.

In addition, lack of control can make people insecure or feel unsafe. Our body seems to be uneasy when the brain senses things we think we cannot control.

6. Absence of Skill

Without a doubt absence of skill is a big reason people are afraid of the unknown. Ever wondered how you would react in unexpected and difficult situations? Especially, when you are new to a position or duty. Just knowing that you don’t know is enough to traumatize you. Imagine being put in charge of operations in a nuclear power plant for a day with absolutely no training. How will that make you feel? If you’re like most of us, you will be terrified by the thought that any mistake could blow the entire facility up.

7. Inexperience

It’s one thing to have the skill and another thing to have the experience. The most equipped and skilled person can still be afraid of the unknown due to lack of experience. Indeed, your thoughts and actions are based on your experiences. In situations where you lack information or insights to predict your action, uncertainty kicks in. More so, as the pressure from uncertainty increases, your fear of the unknown gets activated.

5 Most Common Things People Do to Avoid the Unknown:

  1. People who are afraid of the unknown avoid the unknown by making unnecessary excuses.
  2. By avoiding the unknown, many remain stuck in a relationship they hate.
  3. Shockingly, people stay at jobs that are very toxic, with little to no room for growth. Just to avoid a new job that seems unfamiliar.
  4. People fail to develop themselves by acquiring advanced education or skill set. Simply because they don’t know what to expect in the process.
  5. Sadly, many will take solace in complaining and whining because they are not bold enough to face the change that brings solutions.

At the end of your life, will you have more regrets about the risks you took or the risks you didn’t take? 

3 POWERFUL Books that will Help You Overcome Your Fear of the Unknown:

This book will CAPTIVATE you and DRAW you into a world where you embrace the unknown and create a marvelous life. As soon as you’re done with this book, you will have the boldness to face uncertainty every single day. In the time you spend reading this book, you will uncover your personal power and dormant capacity. Thereby, helping you break away from the fear of the unknown.

Indeed, this book is a LIFE-CHANGER! It inspires you to connect with yourself and establish faith in yourself. Surprisingly, so many of us are controlled by fear without even knowing it. We do the same thing over and over again just to avoid our fear of the unknown. By turning that which you fear into your friend, this book makes the whole world feel so much more exciting and welcoming to you.

This book is a MUST read if you’re looking to make great choices that will improve your life and outcomes despite your fear of the unknown. It scientifically and philosophically explains the different paradigms of reality. Mostly, through the manifestation of power that fortifies you to take charge of your life.

Disclosure: Live by Why is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • When we are afraid of the the unknown we are resistant to change
  • Being afraid of the unknown makes us avoid taking risk
  • While you want all the details, if you had all the facts you wouldn’t need anything. In turn, life will be unexciting and unfulfilling!
  • Ultimately, it’s better to miss once in a while than to play it safe and be held back all your life

Before you leave, feel free to share your thoughts, experience and opinion on judging others. Also, if you are yet to subscribe, do not hesitate to do so now to avoid missing out on receiving empowering and life-changing tips in your inbox!

Thank you for reading 🙂 

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