Overcoming Fear

Fear acts as a safety mechanism that warns us when we are facing potential danger. However the fear we experience is rarely life threatening, but is more often a warning sign that we are about to step out of our comfort zone. Our comfort zone is where we feel safe and secure. ​

We tend to give our power over to fear under the mistaken guise that it is protecting us and keeping us safe. However, unless there is actual danger, if we allow our fear to stop us from being and expressing who we are, and from making the choices that support us in reaching our goals and desires, we hold ourselves back from living a happy and fulfilling life.

By facing our fears and pushing through them we get enjoy more freedom within our lives. We can choose to allow our actions to be guided by positive expectations rather than fear thoughts. The more we become aware of and recognise the self-sabotaging inner dialogue of fear swirling in our minds, of not being liked, of failing, of being hurt, or not having enough, the more we can choose how we act rather than merely repeating the same old fear based behaviours, habits and patterns of the past. If we choose to allow fear thoughts to overpower us by giving into negative thoughts of ‘I can’t do it’, or ‘it is too difficult’, then we are giving our power away to fear. The more we give in to the fear, the stronger and more persistent it becomes, until eventually it stops us doing what we want in our lives.

Each time we make choices based on fear, we are lowering our self-belief and confidence in ourselves. We are shrinking who we are and stopping ourselves growing.  We can free ourselves from this when we consciously decide to push past our fears, refuse to listen to self-depreciating beliefs, and respond with compassion and love to the feelings beneath our fears. We can choose to commit and take responsibility for practicing and developing self-love behaviours. We can allow ourselves to enjoy the freedom of being ourselves, making mistakes and learning from the choices we make. The rewards for overcoming fear is invaluable.  If we run from our fears they will only chase us until we face them. 

Steps to overcoming fear:- 

• Explore deeper within what feelings are really beneath your fears. Make contact with these feelings, embrace these feelings with love and compassion.
• Choose to believe in your personal power and have trust in yourself to handle any situation that arises. 
• Visualise the outcome you do want and do not escalate your fears by imagining the worst possible outcome.
• Repeat positive affirmations to yourself regularly to overcome limiting beliefs.
• See fear as a messenger directing you to what needs to change within … 
• Ask yourself .. ‘Do you really want to be in the same place in a year’s time, saying the same and doing the same, or do you want to look back over the choices you have made and be happy you chose to push past your fear’
• Think about everything you would gain by overcoming your fear. Write down a list of all the possible gains you can envision from overcoming your fear in all the areas of your life that you would like to change.
• Remember that your fears will not go away unless you face them. What you resist persists. What you try to control and repress intensifies. What you resist you give your energy and power over to.
• Remind yourself often that your fears are really your friends. Embrace your fears as they are really guiding you to the areas of your life you need to free yourself from in order to be happy. 
• Recognise that all your thoughts and actions are either coming from a place of FEAR or LOVE. All negative emotions stem from fear causing pain in the body and mind. Practice becoming more mindful of your negative thoughts and choose those empowering thoughts they feel good.