Fear gets to the best of us, whether it is fear of failure, fear of success, or even fear of fear. All of us have experienced anxiety at some point in our lives, and it can be a fundamental stumbling block that holds us back from being truly successful.
Fear can’t hold you back forever if you don’t let it. There are several ways to overcome fear; here are my top 9:
1. SEPARATE REALITY FROM PERCEPTION
Ask yourself what is going on, locate the facts and place them over your feelings.
2. IDENTIFY THE TRIGGER
Figure out what it is in a situation that triggers you. Learning to identify it will help you learn to combat it.
3. KNOW WHERE FEAR LIVES IN YOUR BODY
A lot of times, fear takes over physically. It affects different people in different ways. Identify if/how it affects your physical body and do the work to take care of your body. Ex: if you hold stress in your back, you can learn stretches, foam rolling, etc., to avoid the pain.
4. PRACTICE GRATITUDE
Every day, list out 1-3 things you are thankful for. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is; gratitude helps shift the mind into a positive light, which over time, overcomes fear.
5. LISTEN TO YOUR INNER VOICE
Monitor your inner conversations. If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself. Speak positively to yourself and remind yourself of your strengths.
6. CREATE A NEW ASSOCIATION
Remind yourself that the feeling and the moment will pass. Focus on the positive outcome of the situation rather than the scary in-between.
7. LOOK AT THE GLASS HALF FULL
Perception is compelling, and how you feel about your situation dictates how you respond. So think positively and give yourself a much better chance of success. This won’t happen overnight; practice with just one thought. What is one recurring negative/fearful thought you have? Work on reversing this one thought. Over time, this will become a habit.
8. PRACTICE BREATHING EXERCISES
Breathing helps centre your body; when you stop breathing, your heart stops beating. You can do a grounding exercise or even take five deep, long breaths at any point to calm and centre yourself. It is best to start your day with this, but feel free to practice all day long.
9. CREATE A SAFE SPACE
When you feel safe and secure, there is no room for fear. Find somewhere safe you can retreat to when ill feelings begin- whether this is a real place such as your bedroom or an area in your mind such as the beach. This sense of comfort will soothe you and allow you to face your fear.
Please remember that these are just nine strategies; not everything works for everyone. But this is a place to start. Start implementing these techniques into your life, and don’t let fear hold you back from reaching your goals and highest potential this year!
