Sometimes individuals contemplate coaching when they have reached a cross road in their life or have quite simply hit a brick wall that they just can't seem to get over. In these instances, while a degree of recognition exists that assistance is needed and there is a desire to be coached, often underlying fears also exist.

But what is fear? Primarily, fear is a physical response. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system in the human brain is loaded with dopamine and adrenaline, which are chemical messengers from the body. In a 'danger situation', the HPA releases these messengers along with a hormone (cortisol) which in turn activates the amygdala (an area of the brain responsible for emotional responses, including fear conditioning). This reaction results in increased blood pressure, sugar availability, and an energy boost that allows humans to perform quite amazing displays of strength, reaction, and awareness in confrontational situations.

Because these chemical reactions occur before we have had the opportunity to consciously interpret the event, it can at times negatively impact upon our life. For instance, you may be walking in a dark street, at night, and hear a loud noise. Before you actually evaluate the situation and assess the danger, your brain will access data from the hippocampus (brain area responsible for memory) and determine instant readiness to the situation.

That is where a problem can arise: as this may cause you to diverge from your previously planned routine without actually realising that the noise was only caused by a cat crawling up a metal bin. This example applies to our lives: many people are intimidated by fear - and without analysing their own natural behaviour - find themselves diverging from their goals.

The good news is that although we cannot change the way our body physically responds to a threat, we can change the way we emotionally respond to our body. The concept of 'fearless living' - cited by Rhonda Britten in her book Fearless Living: Live Without Excuses and Succeed Beyond Your Dreams - is a logically simple process.

Most people tend to allow their fears to overcome their will to succeed, and in that process, they miss out on valuable life opportunities. We tend to avoid change, and we also tend to procrastinate. So how do we steer clear of that? We can steer clear of that by becoming aware of ourselves, and through this process, we can understand how our body responds to certain situations, and how we can adapt to those responses. For instance, instead of allowing your natural fear to 'scare you away'; you can use it to your own advantage.

Through a willingness to change conditioned behaviours - such as modifying a plan to respond to fear - you will gradually build new conditioned behaviours. At that point, instead of running away from the alley - you will be able to use the boost of energy to better assess the situation and re-evaluate your options. This is a powerful self-help tool for anyone wanting to overcome their fears.

Cognitive restructuring techniques, such as Thought Stopping and Rational Emotive Therapy, and NLP techniques are common methods used by coaches to alleviate fears and barriers. Creating awareness and willingness to change is a crucial part of the coaching process, and can determine the turning point for the client - the moment of surpassing fears, and approaching success.

About the Author

Simon Clarke has over 15 years of experience as a writer, entrepreneur and business specialist. He is also the founder and Director of the Life Coaching Institute, Australia's leading coach training organization.