We need to learn to embrace fear. This is something that can be potentially difficult depending on how we grew up. Did we have family that helped us push through the daily fears and apprehensions? If not, there will be lots to do.
It is said that modern humans have been around for about 200,000 to 300,000 years. In the beginning, we had developed the Fight or Flight response to help protect us from many different dangers that were truly life-threatening. As we have evolved and moved indoors many of our potential threats have become less and less.
The big problem with modern man and the Fight or Flight thing is that our fear sensors haven’t evolved and developed to match the current times. Yes, things are crazy all over the world, but our fear response turns on during many circumstances that it really shouldn’t. For example, public speaking, many people develop a crippling fear of public speaking.
This fear can overtake the body in ways that seem to mimic a Sabertooth Tiger attack from thousands of years ago. To my knowledge, no one has fallen over and died from the fear they got while they were speaking to a large audience. It can be potentially very nerve-wracking but we won’t die from it. I will make note!
We need to learn to be able to step through the fear. Fear isn’t always there to stop you from doing something, it is also there to get you to assess the current moment to decide if this something truly dangerous or uncomfortable. Things that are uncomfortable can be worked through. Learn to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Anxiety disorders are at an all-time high and sadly all that is being done is that clinicians are just throwing medicine at it and not addressing the root of the problems. How did it start? People have fear and sometimes we move away from it and other times we move through it. Make fear work for you.
Embrace the fear and do your very best to inch your way forward. This will be challenging, but they say that on the other side of fear is a whole new world! Sponsored by, The Rock and Aladdin! Not really, but it will be funny for those of you who get it.
I am working really hard at understanding what I am afraid of and what are the things that make me extremely uncomfortable. I want to understand the difference. My goal is to push through them better to get the results I want. Fear can truly hold us back unnecessarily.
Here are some good tips to help you embrace fear:
-Acknowledge the fear. You have to be able to admit that you are afraid. This should be the very first step.
-Understand the worst-case scenario. How likely is this worst-case scenario to happen in your particular situation?
-Challenge the negative thoughts. What evidence do you have of your fears? How can you reduce those fears?
-Take baby steps. Take steps outside of your comfort zone and confront those fears. Little by little you will get there.
-Mindfulness. This can help you reduce your fears by getting centered and calming your racing thoughts.
-Feel the fear. Allow the fear to go through you so you understand what it is doing.
-Turn fear into actual action. These emotions will help you if you let them. Let them!
Conclusion
To embrace fear we must first understand where it comes from. Each individual is different so there is no one size fits all. We can only progress if we learn to get comfortable with discomfort. As stated above this can be very challenging but it will be worth it in so many areas of your life. You got this!
