Stuck in a job you hate?

Conquer the 2 primary fears that keep You stuck in a dead-end job!

Two fears stand between you and the job, business or creative project of your dreams: the fear of poverty and the fear of criticism.

To overcome these fears you need to understand them so that you can take the action you need to take. says Nancy Anderson, author of the bestselling "Work With Passion" and her newest book, "Work With Passion in Midlife and Beyond".

The fear of poverty:

The chief symptom of the fear of poverty is constantly worrying about not having enough money, even when you have the money you need. This fear surfaces the minute you think about changing or leaving a job, starting a business, or a project of your own design.

Then the imagination floods the mind with images of not having enough money, and what it will be like when you run out of money. Is it any wonder you cling to the safe paycheck, even though you are miserable?

And since there's no proof the next job will be any better, you won't take the first step to overcoming the fear of poverty: get accurate information, such as talking with people who are doing what you want to do and doing it well.

There are a million "What ifs" in life, but you can bring the fear of poverty down to size by using your imagination to think of positive outcomes, such as, "what if I find the work I really want to do?"

And, "what if I make all the money I need (need, not want)?" Or most importantly, "what if I like this work so much I never want to retire?" Best-case scenarios are the carrots that will motivate you to take the small steps that lead to the right niche in work:

• Admit that you are not happy in your job.
  
• Sock away some savings.
  
• Get the education or training you need to excel at what you want to do.
  
• Associate with people who take risks in spite of their fears.
  
• Persevere through self-doubt and anxiety until you get where you want to go.
  
• Celebrate when you reach your goal!
  

The second fear on the path to finding the work you love is the fear of what others think. The fear of criticism is prevalent in a highly competitive society, where fame and fortune are the goals, not enjoying what you are doing for a living.

The fear of criticism:

The symptoms of the fear of criticism are shyness, procrastination, inability to accept correction without defending, lack of perseverance and follow-through, ambivalence about starting and completing projects, seeing mistakes as unforgivable failures rather than as part of the journey, and the need for everyone's approval.

Many original ideas have died at birth because of the fear of looking wrong or stupid in the eyes of others, who are often close to you. Regrettably, the fear of criticism causes you to miss golden opportunities for growth.

If you grew up in a highly critical family, the chances are you internalized a voice that scolds you mercilessly when you make the slightest mistake. Even when you have done nothing wrong you castigate yourself. It doesn't occur to you that your critics could be wrong, or that they are accusing you of what bothers them about themselves.

There are three antidotes that will help you to overcome the fear of criticism: compassion, preparation and humor:

1. Compassion means that you have sympathy for the human condition. When you accept that none of us is supposed to be perfect, including you, harsh external and internal critics lose their power over your mind. Tolerance for error also helps you to recognize when critics have the problem not you. Since you are open to constructive criticism you attract critics who can help you improve.
   
   
2. Preparation is a good pair of hiking boots that take you through the roughest terrain. No matter how intense the criticism is that you hear, you cope well with what is said or written about you. You know you didn't take shortcuts so you are confident that there are no gaps in your preparation.
   
   
3. Humor gives you perspective, which defuses hostility. It's impossible for even the meanest critics to harm you when you can laugh at your mistakes. When you are too self-critical you watch funny movies, or talk with friends who tell you that you are being too hard on yourself.

The fear of poverty and criticism is no match for the certainly that comes after you take the risk that scares you. So don't expect absence of these fears. Instead, take the first step to finding what will make you happy, even if that is just considering how good life can be when you find fulfilling work.

About Nancy Anderson:

She author of the bestselling "Work With Passion" and her newest book, "Work With Passion in Midlife and Beyond."

For more information on Nancy Anderson and her books "Work with Passion: How to do What You Love for a Living" and "Work With Passion in Midlife and Beyond," go to www.workwithpassion.com.

>> Buy this book on Amazon: Work with Passion in Midlife and Beyond: Reach Your Full Potential and Make the Money You Need