Why Unlocking Your Full Potential Can Feel Scary (and How to Move Through It)

You want more. You know you’re capable of more. But when it comes time to actually step into your power, to claim the life, career, or confidence you know is possible… something holds you back. 

That something isn’t laziness. It’s not a lack of talent. It’s not even a lack of motivation. 

It’s fear. 

And not just any fear - the fear of actually becoming the version of yourself you’ve always envisioned. The one who speaks up. Who takes up space. Who fully owns their potential. 

I know this fear intimately. 

The Moment I Had to Step Into My Power 

For over two decades, I built a career in corporate. It was safe. Predictable. A steady paycheck. And then, one day, I was laid off. 

It was one of those moments where everything you thought was secure suddenly wasn’t. And I had a choice: scramble to find another job that felt safe… or finally step into the work I really wanted to do. 

Spoiler: I chose the latter. But let me tell you - it was terrifying, and that shift wasn’t immediate. Pretty sure I cried for about 3 months before I got my wits about me again. 

I was stepping into the unknown, with nothing to cling to but the belief that I could create something different. That I could use my skills, my knowledge, and my passion to build a business that mattered. 

And that’s when I realized: stepping into your power isn’t just about having confidence. It’s about facing the fear that comes with real transformation - and doing it anyway. 

Why We Fear Our Own Power 

Here’s the truth: stepping into your full potential means stepping away from who you used to be. It means shifting out of an identity that served you for possibly many years, or decades. And that’s scary. Because even if your old patterns weren’t serving you, they were familiar. 

The fear of stepping into your power can show up as: 

• Self-doubt: What if I’m not actually good enough? 

• Imposter syndrome: Who am I to do this? 

• Fear of judgment: What will people think? 

• Fear of failure: What if I try and it doesn’t work? 

• Fear of success: What if I actually pull this off… then what?  

It’s not that we can’t step into our power - it’s that doing so requires us to let go of the comfortable version of ourselves we’ve always known. The identity of who we know ourselves as. 

The tricky part of this is that our subconscious mind determines anything new or different as “unfamiliar” and it will process anything unfamiliar as unsafe. So, even when these are things you want to be, do or have that are actually GOOD for you, your subconscious isn’t processing it that way. It’s trying to keep you stuck in what’s familiar.... and “safe”. You’ll unknowingly create scenarios that prevent you from being, doing, having the very thing you want. You’ll be in your own way. Been there – done that!! You’re NOT alone here. 

How to Move Through the Fear 

So how do you get past the fear and subconscious blocks? How do you stop letting it dictate your life and start choosing your next level? Here’s what helped me (and what I now help my clients do every day): 

1. Recognize That Fear Doesn’t Mean “Stop” 

Fear isn’t a sign that you’re doing the wrong thing. In fact, it’s often a sign that you’re on the exact right path. Growth is uncomfortable - if it weren’t, everyone would do it. The key is learning to move with fear instead of waiting for it to disappear. 

2. Reprogram the Subconscious Stories Keeping You Stuck 

Most of our fears are rooted in old beliefs - things we picked up from childhood, past experiences, or even societal conditioning. But those beliefs? They’re not facts. They’re just stories. And stories can be rewritten. 

Through hypnotherapy, I help my clients access their subconscious and shift these deep-seated fears and transform what “safety” means in their subconscious mind, so they stop feeling paralyzed when faced with growth. I help clients get out of their own way. 

3. Take Small but Bold Actions 

You don’t have to quit your job overnight. You don’t have to suddenly become a completely different person. But you do have to take steps toward what you want. 

• Speak up in a meeting. 

• Set a boundary. 

• Say “yes” to an opportunity that excites you (even if it scares you). 

Invest in the support you need to break through old patterns. 

Confidence isn’t built in theory. It’s built in action. 

4. Accept That You Won’t Feel “Ready” (And Do It Anyway) 

Here’s a secret: no one feels 100% ready for their next level. Not the CEO. Not the artist. Not the person you admire most. They just decide to start before they feel ready. 

And you can, too. 

It’s Time to Claim What’s Yours 

Stepping into your power isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about becoming more of who you already are. It’s about unlearning and unblocking the patterns that you default to that hold you back. 

It’s about trusting yourself. Listening to that inner voice that knows what you’re capable of. And then making the decision to act on it - even when it feels scary. 

I did it. My clients do it. And you can, too. 

Are you ready to stop letting fear dictate your life and start stepping into the version of you who actually goes after what she wants? 

Let’s talk.