48: Fear Isn't The Enemy...Hiding From It Is

read time 3 minutes

Welcome to the With Intention weekly newsletter where I share ideas & learnings to help you live & lead with intention

At a glance:

• Essay: The 5 Fears that quietly shape your life
• Quote: Courage > Fear
• Visual: Your actions dictate your future

The 5 Fears That Quietly Shape Your Life

I’m making some big moves right now.

I’ve invested heavily into a business accelerator to map out my next chapter—products, services, offers that can scale and serve more people.
And I’m building an assessment tool with PeopleBest—something that could become a powerful foundation for my work moving forward.

It’s exciting.

But also? It’s uncomfortable. I’ve learned to lean into discomfort, but if I’m honest, I still hear the whisper:

“What if you go all in… and it doesn’t work?”
“What if this is the wrong move?”
“What if you miss?”

That’s fear. Not always loud—but present.

And I’ve learned something over the past few years:

Fear isn’t the problem. Hiding from it is.

When we don’t name our fear, it still shapes our decisions.
It just does it in the background. 

Don Brown’s research uncovered five fears that show up across all cultures. Chet Scott shared these in his book "Becoming Built to Lead", and they’ve stuck with me ever since. He found that there are 5 core fears we all share:

1. Fear of death or loss
2. Fear of the outsider (not being accepted)
3. Fear of the future (uncertainty)
4. Fear of chaos (losing control)
5. Fear of not leaving a mark (being forgotten)

We all have our version of these. For me, it’s often fear of the unknown (uncertainty)… and fear of insignificance (not leaving a mark).

But I’m not letting those fears lead anymore.

I name them. I pray through them. I get still.
And I surround myself with people who help me see clearly again. 

Not because I’m fearless—but because I’ve learned how to move with the fear.

Here’s your challenge this week:

1. Pick the fear that’s showing up most for you right now.

2. Write one truth that’s stronger than that fear.

3. Take one step forward anyway.

That’s it.

You don’t have to wait for the fear to go away.
You just have to refuse to let it stop you.

This is the work.
This is the journey.
And you’re not walking it alone.

I’m in it with you—shoulder to shoulder.

Jon

Your Actions Dictate Your Future

source: Sahil Bloom "5 Types of Wealth"

Thanks for reading!

Jon Giganti 

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