Conquering fear is no small feat. First, you have to identify what you are afraid of, and then, you have to put it into words. The first step might seem easy, but it’s not! Something as simple as articulating your fears presents a daunting challenge because your belief says that as long as your fears stay in your heart, they can’t touch you.
You might fear dental procedures because you think that under the influence of anesthesia, you will reveal all your secrets. You might be afraid of going out in a thunderstorm because you think you might get struck by lightning. The first thing you need to do to overcome such irrational thoughts is to acknowledge them and their irrationality.
There you go! That’s half the battle, and you are succeeding. So, are you ready to gain some confidence-building skills? Below are five tips on how to say “goodbye” to fear and become a free person:
Find Out More About Your Fear
We are sure you know all your fear triggers. Have you ever thought about reflecting on them to find out their cause? Fear is always hidden, and you need to look inside yourself to find its root. Instead of writing about your fears in a journal, record the patterns. Dive in deep, and explore all the aspects.
How will this help you?
You will now know what jump-starts your fear, and as a result, you will be able to avoid it or face it head-on.
Use Humor to Devalue Your Worst Fears
Let’s suppose you fear giving a speech in front of people. Yet, you are in charge of delivering a speech at an upcoming business event in front of 500 people. What’s the worst that could happen? You might make a fool of yourself? That seems unlikely because you will be prepared. You might choke in the middle, but you can quickly recover after sipping some water. There’s nothing to fear about giving a speech to people.
Channel Positive Imagination
Have a positive attitude; that’s all we’ve got to say. Well, there’s more, but the sum of this is that the more positively you think about outcomes, the easier it will be for you to conquer your fears. Plus, this will help you build motivation. For example, if you fear being attacked by a dog, picture approaching it slowly and getting cuddles instead of sharp teeth.
Pay Attention to Your Breathing
Fear gives rise to anxiety, and once this emotion joins the party, you can be left stupefied. So, whenever you feel fear trying to take control of you, calm yourself by taking deep breaths. Practice mindfulness sitting in your place, and if you are at home, assume a yoga position and repeat a mantra.
Appreciate Your Courage
Do you pat yourself on the back when you do something good or out of the ordinary? No? Then, you should! Fear thrives on blocking you from all the good that’s out there. So, even when you accomplish something small that can help you overcome your fear, tell yourself that you did a good job.
Fear is subjective. Your feelings can stop you from doing what your mind tells you, and that’s because your heart goes into a flight-or-fight mode. An effective way to deal with this is to tap into your stress management skills and be objective. Once you realize that your fear is only in your mind, you can deal with it easily.