Facing your Fears

 

Although we like to think of ourselves as brave, resilient, and courageous, we all have our own fears. Being fearful is a natural human instinct and we typically experience this when we feel like we are in danger. However, there are other fears which aren't dangerous at all like the fear of failing, fear of embarrassment, fear of certain animals, fear of public speaking, or even social fears. In order to control this negative feeling and not let it affect you constantly, you sometimes have to face it. Don't be afraid any longer, the only thing between you and your fears is your mind.

Here are some ways you can wave your fears goodbye:

Reflect

Have an internal conversation with yourself. Think about what your fear is stopping you from doing and consider whether it truly is a problem that you need to confront. Are you fears hindering your capabilities? Is it preventing you from doing something meaningful to you? Are your fears stopping you from living the best version of yourself?

Compare the pros and cons. Make a list and write down the things you can achieve or how your life may be different if you put your fears aside. In other words, think out of your comfort zone. Reading this list can help you come up with a clear plan on how to face your fears. 

Evaluate

Fear sometimes stems from not knowing much about the thing you're afraid of in the first place. For example, you may be afraid of flying because you've watched a couple of news reports on airplane accidents. However, if you do some research on the probabilities of death from an airplane accident you may discover that the chances are one in a million. Now, this doesn't mean you'll find statistics about everything like the fears of public speaking but you can read success stories online and the positive outcomes of doing so. It's all about doing minimal research and evaluating risk levels. 

Plan

Part of reflecting about your fears is to help you create an action plan. Take it one step at a time before it's time to execute. For example, if you fear public speaking you can face this fear by gradually increasing the audience. You'll first start by practicing on your own in front of the mirror. Then, you'll do it in front of your family members, friends, or even your coworkers. Increase the audience gradually in order to take it step by step.

If you fear flying, you can't really get on a plane and just pretend without going anywhere. However, you can use your mind to simulate the feeling of being on a plane. You can also watch videos and hear sounds of airplanes to help you feel like you're really there. Just remember to introduce each feeling one by one in order to reduce anxiety and allow yourself to process the fear gradually. 

Distract

Our fears become our worst enemies when they take over our mind. Try listening to music, playing a game on your phone, solving a crossword puzzle, or reading  a book in order to distract you fears from entering your mind. If your fear involves an audience, think of exercises you can practice before you perform. Breathing exercises and meditation can help you ease your anxiety and stress levels which can also ease your mind. You can also choose a certain area in the audience you can focus on whenever you feel you need to expel fear from your mind and get back on track.

Something very important to remember is to not force yourself to get rid of your fears. In order to successfully process and work through them, you have to prepare mentally and physically. If you force yourself chances are you'll be adding extra stress. Take it one day at a time and give yourself some credit for making the effort to rid yourself of your fears. Remember that most of these fears exist only in the mind.