Face Your Fear and be Fabulously Fearless
Anais Nin once wrote, “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage”.
Seven ways to overcome fear which may be keeping you stuck and holding you back.
Shine the light on your fear.
Pinpoint the fear that’s plaguing you the most, hold it up to the light of your awareness. Ask yourself honestly: Is this thought really true? Can I know for sure? Is there another way of looking at this? What would the highest version of me say about this? Remember, the word thought is not synonymous with the word truth. Your thoughts are not necessarily true. Your true self is the ever-present observer who watches your fear-based thoughts as they pass by.
Reframe fear as excitement.
Fear and excitement are almost indistinguishable. Feel your fear as excitement running up and down your body. The most successful people in the world don’t feel fearless than everyone else — they just don’t interpret fear as a stop sign. They feel the fear and proceed anyway because they want their dream life more than they want to avoid the feeling of fear.
Use a mantra.
The phrase “this too shall pass” is a great mantra to use whenever you feel fear rising in your body making you hesitant to take action. It can help you remember that fear is a natural and temporary response in your body which rises and falls away like a wave in the ocean. When you realize it will pass, you don’t have to feel so afraid of experiencing it anymore.
The bigger picture.
Fear feels uncomfortable but, in most cases, it won’t cause harm. However, attempting to avoid the experience of fear will. You are robbing yourself of the chance to experience the deep satisfaction which comes with listening to your heart and soul and creating a better life full of passion and purpose.Remembering the bigger vision for life can help you step out of your comfort zone and into the unknown.
Take bold opposing action.
One of the quickest and most effective ways to overcome fear is to take one single bold step forward in the direction of your dreams, to prove to yourself you are willing to do what it takes.
Write a gains list.
Our minds are often wired to focus on the ‘cons’ of our actions instead of the potential ‘pros’ or gains. To help counteract this negativity, write a list of all the things you stand to gain when you go after your goal or dream. For example, feelings of satisfaction and fulfillment, self-growth, being of service to the world and being an inspiration to others.
Be in the present
The feeling of fear in our body is often triggered by thoughts in our mind, remembering past failures. We worry about what may happen in the future. We create our own negative stories about something that happened in the past. Nothing is actually threatening or disturbing us in the present moment.
You can take your focus away from your thoughts by switching your focus to what is going on in the present moment. Pay attention to the sounds, sights and smells around you. Feel the energy that emanates from your body. Notice the sensation of the air on your skin or the clothing against your body. Take a few deep breaths. You will immediately experience a sense of relief, relaxation, and growing inner peace. You can use the present moment as a safe haven throughout the day, whenever you experience fear
