Sometimes following through on your vision can be hard. Don’t despair. (Photo via Thinglass on Shutterstock.)

You know the kind of difference you want to make in the world. But like many, you may find yourself stuck, asking yourself, “Where do I start?”

Too many people have wonderful ideas that they never put into action because they get overwhelmed at the beginning. Largely this happens because they let fear guide them instead of their inspiration.

The bad news: as human beings we give our fears life, and treat them as though they are real. This happens quite automatically. Fear is a survival mechanism that was created in the pre-historic age when human beings were at constant risk of being in fatal danger.

The good news: courage is not the absence of fear. It is looking it straight in the eye and acting anyway. Will you fail? Maybe. But it isn’t certain. How will you know if you don’t try?

So where do you start? Anywhere. Here are some recommendations to help you begin your journey:

1. Know your vision.

It is difficult to know how to get there if you don’t know where you are going. Create a vision and do it in a way that your brain will process it most powerfully: through pictures. Go through some magazines (or the Internet) and choose images that represent the vision: the people working with you, the community you will impact, the future for yourself. Hang your vision where you will see it every day. There will be days when you will want to give up and having this permanent reminder of your ‘why’ is crucial.

2. Tell people about it. 

Share your vision with anyone who will listen. Sharing your idea will keep you motivated as you get reconnected to your goals with each conversation. More importantly, you will be amazed by how much others want to support you in your endeavors and are willing to connect you to the right people.

3. Don’t do it alone.

The number one cause of  feeling overwhelmed is trying to do it all alone, and being overwhelmed creates fear. Hire a coach or join a meet-up for support. Ask people for help, seek out partnership, and build a team.

4. Fail.

Waiting for the ‘right time’ keeps you in perpetual procrastination. You will make mistakes. But this forces us to be creative, often landing us in better places. Welcome failure as an opportunity for growth.

5. Have fun.

When we are enjoying ourselves and have opportunities to play, we activate the parts in our brain that are the most creative and productive. So don’t forget to have a life that brings you joy.

Remember, fear is a natural part of our humanity. But in the end, YOU you have complete control over whether it stops you. The only way you truly fail, is if you quit.

Now go forth and be awesome!

Stephanie Staidle, founder of The Right Brain Entrepreneur, is a professional development consultant and creativity specialist. She works with new and seasoned entrepreneurs as well as companies that are, by definition, very successful, but feel they are stuck at their current levels of performance. By tapping into the resources that are underused in many people, namely, ‘right brain thinking,’ she helps improve creative problem solving, innovation, communication and team building resulting in higher levels of performance, employee satisfaction and competitive advantage. Stephanie offers online and local workshops, corporate training, and individual coaching. Learn more about her services and sign up for her free newsletter here.