That feeling when your hand palms are sweating, your heart is racing out of control, your brain isn’t functioning normally and your mind is filling itself with illusions that only exist in your internal world.
Fear.
Fear of rejection. Fear of success. Fear of public speaking. Fear of the unknown. Fear of making your own choices. Fear of…simply being.
We all experience fear at some point in our lives. It’s a natural response mechanism designed to keep us safe and protect us from danger. To some extent it can be quite useful at times as it motivates us to get out of a dangerous situation, make necessary life changes and take action towards our goals.
But most of the fear that we carry around in our bodies, minds and souls serves no life-saving or motivational purpose at all. As a result, fear can also paralyze and imprison people.
The feelings and emotions associated with it can be so intense that they override any sense of logic and translate into anxiety, anger, worry, and self-loathing.
When fear controls your mind and becomes the driving force in your life, you end up living in a small world ruled by self-doubt, with unrealistic thought patterns and debilitating beliefs that are not confirmed by the outside world. Dealing with all of this will prevent you from being happy, realizing your goals and living the life you want.
It’s a battle with and against yourself. A battle you’ll never win.
But what if there was a way out of that web of fear, anxiety and self-doubt? What if there was a way to turn your fears into fuel for self discovery and self growth, and to turn your self-imposed barriers into power and stepping stones to emotional freedom?
Turns out, there is.
Conquering your fears begins with acknowledging that fear is a choice, not an inherent trait or universal truth. It’s important to be aware of the fears and insecurities that are holding you back in life and recognize them as self-imposed versions of reality.
The next step is to stop considering fear as a threat that needs to be avoided or you must run away from. Choose to see it as a teacher and a potential stepping stone to empowerment and growth. When fear comes knocking, use it as an invitation to ask yourself, “What is this really about? What’s underneath it?” For example, are you afraid to pick up the phone and make an important phone call because you’re afraid of making a mistake? And what if you did make a mistake? Does that make you a failure or does it mean you’re not good enough? What’s at the root of your fear? Lean into it and write it down. Once you’re able to identify them, you can ask yourself whether they are product of your own beliefs and thought patterns or rooted in logic. Be honest with yourself and remember that there is no right or wrong.
Accepting and embracing your fears is often your key to tapping into your own strength.
Once you recognize them as self-imposed limitations instead of fact-based truths, you can start to confront them and as a result, they will start to lose their amount of power. Take the example of the phone call. Yes, you could make a mistake and yes, maybe you start to stutter in the middle of the conversation, but would that make you a failure? Would that be ‘proof’ of your being not good enough?
Accepting and embracing your fears is often your key to tapping into your own strength. Once you recognize them as self-imposed limitations instead of fact-based truths, you can start to confront them and as a result, they will start to lose their amount of power. Take the example of the phone call. Yes, you could make a mistake and yes, maybe you start to stutter in the middle of the conversation, but would that make you a failure? Would that be ‘proof’ of your being not good enough?
The simple answer is no. It would just be a beautiful opportunity to learn and grow. Although the role of fear is to keep us safe, we limit ourselves by letting it define our lives. Fears are internal struggles that have nothing to do with the outside world. To live your life to the fullest and awaken your authentic soul, you must leverage fear to blow and push through the roadblocks keeping you from unlocking your true potential. Go out there, face your fears, embrace them, and challenge them. Make mistakes, fall down and get back up so you can become stronger, and discover your dreams.
Once you become more aligned with your true and authentic self, it becomes easier to do what it takes to pursue your dreams.
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