Six Ways to Move Forward Even When You’re Afraid

What do you do when you don't know how to move forward? When you’re stuck between a place that no longer works for you and a vast sea of uncertain possibilities?

When the Jewish people left Egypt, they soon faced a terrifying sea that seemed impossible to cross. No one knew what to do until Nachshon ben Aminadav had the courage to jump into the water and walk until it almost covered his mouth. Only then did the sea split, and the Jewish people were able to continue their journey.

How did Nachshon keep moving forward with no guarantee he would make it through? What can you do when you face your own sea-crossing moment?

Here are six ways to move forward even when you’re afraid.

1. Make Your First Step Small

Fear grows when your first step is too big and intimidating. Break it down into one small, concrete task: one phone call, a short email, even one sentence. Make your goal movement, not completion.

Nachshon took one small step and then another until a path opened up before him.

2. Focus on What You Can Control

You may not be able to control the outcome, but you can show up. Separating your effort from the result makes starting easier and reduces the pressure.

When the Jewish people walked into the sea, they didn't know if they would make it across. They focused only on what they could do to move forward.

3. Expect Discomfort

Don't wait for fear to disappear before you begin. Assume it will stay with you and move forward anyway. You don't need to eliminate anxiety to take action.

Recall a time when you were anxious but pushed through anyway. Even after the sea split, walking between walls of water was frightening. They moved forward while still afraid.

4. Ask Yourself: What's the Cost of Not Doing This?

Consider what happens if you stay where you are. What will you regret? What opportunities will you miss?

When Nachshon stepped into the sea, he knew the cost of turning back was too high. An uncertain possibility of life beat the familiar imprisonment of the past.

5. Limit Your Overthinking

Give yourself five minutes to think, then act. Overthinking keeps you frozen. There will always be more options to ponder with every step forward.

When the Jewish people crossed the sea, they couldn't let their thoughts paralyze them. Once they decided to move forward, they didn't look back.

6. Anchor Your Action to Your Identity

Think about who you are and who you want to become. Try shifting from "I feel scared" to "I'm someone who shows up even when I'm uncomfortable." Your feelings are temporary, but your identity creates lifelong momentum.

When Nachshon led the way into the sea, he saw himself not just as an individual but as a leader paving the way for the Jewish nation. Walking through walls of water, the people didn't see themselves as alone but as part of something larger, carried forward to safety.

When the Jewish people left Egypt, they faced a seemingly insurmountable obstacle the moment they reached the sea. They could turn back toward slavery, stay frozen on the shore, or follow Nachshon into uncertain waters.

Each of us faces our own sea-splitting moments when we must move forward even when we are afraid. But if we know who we are, what we stand for, and who walks beside us, we too will reach the other shore, one step at a time.