Most people have negative self-beliefs.

For example, we know that we are afraid of heights, so we believe that we can’t even handle looking down over the side of the bridge. Because why would you do that to yourself if you were afraid, right?

But by avoiding ever looking out at a gorgeous view at a lookout point on the edge of a cliff, where you are safely standing behind securely built guards, you’re missing out on some of the prettiest things you can see in life. What opportunities might have been inspired if you’d seen more of those views?

Then, you meet someone who fights forest fires for a living. Part of their job is jumping out of airplanes to land in the zone. While there are many frightening aspects of their work, you discover while talking to them that they fear heights. How can they do it, then? Why would they pursue a career that directly includes something they’re so afraid of? Couldn’t they have fought fires in a way that avoided heights? But this is their work, and they love it. They find it fulfilling. It certainly helps the world and keeps other people safe. And so, they approached their fear of heights differently. They saw it as an opportunity to face a challenge and become more vital for a job that requires a lot of bravery to get done.

We don’t all have to jump out of planes. But the more negative self-beliefs we have, the more limits we put on our life. What do you believe that could, maybe, be turned on its head?

The self-made millionaire is one of the best examples of this. Did you know that a study was done in 2003, and it was found that 40 percent of the world’s self-made millionaires have dyslexia? This is something many people consider a disadvantage. People with dyslexia are frequently told that they can’t do a lot of things. And yet, those people did. When millionaire Richard Branson, who has dyslexia, talked about this, he said that part of turning your fears into your career is about changing how you view these things. He said that dyslexia is not a disadvantage. It’s a different way of seeing things.

If you’re afraid of sharing your big ideas with a large group of people, that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. That means you have a mindset that will force you to push harder to make sure the ideas you share are worth your time. It means you have a perspective that reminds you sharing these ideas is essential, or you wouldn’t feel the fear.

Figure out what your fears are in your professional life. Then, uncover the negative beliefs you’ve built up around them. Then the next step is to figure out how to turn them into an advantage over your competition.