Overcoming Fear of Change with Micro-Shifts
A 2020 Ipsos survey for the World Economic Forum found that 72% of adults across 27 countries desire significant change in some aspect of their lives.
Why, then, aren't people enacting the changes they desire?
FEAR.
When my first memoir was released, detailing the psychological warfare and emotional and physical distress I endured during my twenty-five-year-long relationship with my first husband, people often questioned how I could stay in such detrimental circumstances for so long. Some even questioned the validity of my truth simply because of how long I stayed in that relationship.
I found myself listing a variety of reasons to justify "why I stayed," most of which had no relation to the multitude of abuses. Among the list were familial obligations, social expectations, religious beliefs, and even my own subconscious beliefs of unworthiness. All in all, every excuse came down to one thing—fear.
The March 12th, 2026, episode of my show SHIFTING GEARS LIVE featured wealth alchemist and embodiment mentor Leisa Tindal, who shocked listeners with her claim:
"We're actually petrified of success."
What do we fear that supercedes our desire for more or better in life?
😬The Unknown. Research shows that people prefer familiar and stability. Our nervous systems are built for familiarity, too. So, the anxiety and stress around change prevents us from embracing it with more willingness.
😬Backlash. Societal pressures to adhere to certain lifestyles, combined with familial expectations, restrict us from stepping outside the bounds of what is considered normal and acceptable.
😬Changed Relationships. Envy, disapproval, and other judgments about how we should live our lives affect whether we are accepted in our families and other social units. So, opting for something different than what those around you are accustomed to can cause rejection which can dissuade many from pursuing what they truly want.
😬Pressure to Sustain. We want more, but since we've never lived at that higher level, we don't know what will be required of us to sustain it. That unfamiliarity about higher expectations, demands, and standards, seems riskier than remaining exactly where we are.
😬Loss. Of relationships. Living arrangements. Finances. Pets. Material possessions. Stability. And even the idea of who one actually is.
The "change" isn't the problem, you see—it's the perceived consequences of that change.
How do we overcome this?
We make micro-shifts in:
Mind —> What you believe is possible
Inner Voice —> What you tell yourself under pressure
Outer Voice —> What you ask for / tolerate
Energy —> What you can emotionally hold
Boundaries —> What you protect
The key, which bears repeating, is MICRO-shifts.
Someone who doesn't know how to swim isn't going to suddenly jump off a cliff into the ocean (at least not in their right mind).
However, if they get comfortable with the idea,
then comfort themselves,
then ask for the time and patience to work up to the cliff,
then takes the time to work their way towards it, sitting in the discomfort with each step,
all the while setting boundaries around not wanting to be forced or chided or pushed,
will gain the strength to take that leap or even opt not to on the basis of safety.
These micro-shifts are exactly what we work through in my self-guided programs JUMPSTART and POWER UP.
We adjust your thoughts and decisions to reduce:
✅Indecision
✅Mental spiraling
✅Self-Doubt
✅Emotional Exhaustion
✅People-Pleasing
✅Procrastination
So, if you're ready for more or better, and want to pursue that without the internal resistance that so often stops you, take this 5-minute QUIZ now.
When you get your results, think about what you want and where you are, then do what you feel called to do.
Because you CAN live the life you want. You just have to CHOOSE it, by choosing you, for once.
For more on my personal journey from lifelong abuse to living the life of my dreams, go to www.danasdiaz.com to download the first 2 chapters of my best-selling and award-winning memoir GASPING FOR AIR.
If you like it and want to get it on Amazon, Kindle, or Audible, go to: https://a.co/d/06NX7lXB
