Financial expert and author Farnoosh Torabi discusses fear, anxiety, and FOMO. She explains how fears and anxieties can be used as a secret weapon to reach financial goals. Topics include fear of rejection, fear of missing out, fear of exposure, and fear of endings.
Rejection should be seen as an opportunity for self-exploration and embracing our uniqueness.
Embracing solitude and focusing on personal growth can help combat the fear of loneliness.
Identifying and prioritizing our genuine aspirations and values can alleviate the fear of missing out (FOMO) and promote fulfillment.
Deep dives
Fear of Rejection: Embracing Your Singularity
In her book, Franus reframes fear as a superpower and explores the fear of rejection. She emphasizes that rejection is not a reflection of our worth or capabilities, but rather an opportunity to embrace our uniqueness and find our true selves. Franus encourages readers to not fear rejection, but to see it as a signal to examine what we want to protect and learn or relearn about ourselves. By accepting and understanding our fears, including the fear of rejection, we can find strength and pride in our singular identities.
Fear of Loneliness: Finding Strength in Solitude
Franus shares her experience of feeling lonely in college and how it led her to embrace her aloneness. She highlights the importance of getting comfortable with oneself and finding strength in solitude. Rather than succumbing to the fear of loneliness by forcing oneself into situations that don't align with our true interests or values, Franus encourages embracing the opportunity to focus on personal growth and engage in activities that bring joy and fulfillment. By recognizing the benefits of alone time and being true to oneself, we can find contentment and genuine connections with others.
Fear of Missing Out: Creating Your Own Path
Franus explores the fear of missing out (FOMO) and highlights the importance of identifying what we truly want and need. She emphasizes that comparing ourselves to others and following the crowd can lead to a lack of authenticity and satisfaction. Instead, Franus suggests delving deeper into the underlying desires and feelings that drive FOMO and creating our own unique paths based on our genuine aspirations and values. By understanding the motivations behind our FOMO and making choices that align with our true selves, we can find fulfillment without compromising our individuality.
Fear of Exposure: Setting Personal Boundaries
Franus discusses the fear of exposure, particularly in relation to sharing personal financial information or other intimate details in public settings. She discusses how the fear of exposure can stem from valid concerns, such as protecting ourselves from potential misuse of personal information. Franus emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and only revealing personal details in safe and trusted spaces. While transparency and open dialogue are important, she highlights the need to respect one's own sacred information and choose when and where to share it based on personal comfort and necessity.
Fear of Endings: Embracing Change and Growth
Franus explores the fear of endings and how it can serve as a reminder to appreciate the present moment and prepare for new beginnings. She acknowledges that endings can be challenging and often evoke grief, but emphasizes that they can also be transformative and necessary for personal growth. Franus encourages embracing change and recognizing that endings are part of life's natural cycle. By understanding the fear of endings, we can make the most of the remaining time and create new opportunities that align with our goals and desires.
In this episode: fear, anxiety, FOMO, talking about money, endings, self development, exposure, and the fear of loneliness.
This week we are joined by Farnoosh Tarabi where we will be discussing the topic of fear and anxiety, reinterpreting FOMO, and how to recognize and use your fears and anxieties to work with you in order to reach your financial goals. While we can sometimes interpret our own fear as a weakness, many times these fears and anxieties can be a secret weapon, ones that motivate us and usher in necessary change that can make a difference in the path that we are on. In some cases, it can be a fear of missing out on opportunities. Other times it can be a fear of endings. But no matter the fears, learning to recognize the underlying feelings and meanings can ultimately help you on the path to FI! Remember, an important part of this journey requires introspection, and while it may be uncomfortable to sit with your fears and anxieties, working with them, rather than against them may just be the superpower you didn’t know you had.
