Fear can be crippling and is the Achilles heel of many would be success stories, if only they could just submit to their abilities. Unfortunately for many, the overwhelming feeling of stepping outside their comfort zone is just too much to bear.
The truth is we all have 24 hours in the day, and we all have opportunities. I am not going to say outside factors cannot affect your chances in life, because collectively research shows if you grow up with negative role models, in a negative environment, you are a lot less likely to be successful.
However just because you are 5 feet tall doesn’t mean you can’t play basketball (this is the true story of the smallest basketball player ever, Tyrone Bogues)
If you can get comfortable with being uncomfortable then half the battle is won!
Here are 5 tips for facing your fears :
1. Do it anyway
I am going to let you in on a little secret, we are all scared. It’s fight or flight in many situations. Some choose to run away and stay in comfort, while others choose to feel the fear and keep on moving forward.
Some of the most historic moments in history are a result of scared men, women and children with their hearts racing, their palms sweating and their adrenaline pumping saying “I’m going to do it anyway.”
Sometimes it’s better to fail at something big, than to never try. So next time you are faced with a challenge, think of your biggest role model and their biggest accomplishment and tell yourself that they felt like this when they accomplished it. The difference; they just did it anyway!
“He who is not every day conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
2. Weigh up the options
In all honesty, sometimes facing your fears will not serve you. Weigh up the options at hand and see if you should proceed.
If you are scared of snakes, but live in London, maybe it wouldn’t make much sense to seek out a 12 foot anaconda just so you can process your irrational fear that you have had since childhood.
However that is only a decision you can make, so weigh up your options and face the fears that are going to wield the best results for your life!
3. Process your fears
Are your fears rational or irrational?
If you are scared of leaving your job and life and investing your savings into living on a desert island, with no future income, no previous survival skills and you will be surrounded by pit vipers and panthers. You can probably file that in the rational fears section.
On the other hand if you are scared of balloons you can put that in the irrational fears section.
If you want success in your life you have to be able to put things into perspective. Examples of irrational fears could be like making trivial phone calls, connecting with people who have similar interests or putting yourself out there in your business. These types of things need to be turned into a habit and just become part of your day to day routine.
Some of the more complex decisions which bring up perfectly normal rational fears that need to be thought through a little more, but make sure you don’t put them off just because you are afraid!
4. Visualise accomplishing your fears
Different things produce different feelings in different people. Even if it’s just little irrational things that fill you with anxiety. Don’t worry you can face it!
One great way to overcome fear is to visualise. Imagine yourself doing it before you do it, and make a deal with yourself that after you have visualised it, you will actually make it happen.
There is a reason why successful people visualise; IT WORKS! so next time you are stuck, take 5 minutes, shut your eyes and imagine yourself completing your task successfully. Then do it!
“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela
5. Go on a fear facing spree
This one is not for the faint hearted and only the true personal development bad asses can live up to this challenge, it really comes down to if you are man, woman or child enough to do it!
You need to make 2 lists- Irrational fears and rational fears. You get your list of irrational fears and you tick them off one by one until the whole list is complete.
Your rational fears, you think them through and the ones that make sense to do you go right ahead and do them!
Take as long as you need to do this, but don’t drag it out and take longer than is needed. Get your momentum going and get ticking and soon you will have faced your list of fears!
Life is scary at times, but sometimes you just need to macho up and get yourself back on track! So face a fear today even if it is a small one to get your momentum going!
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