Power of Fear
Fear is an unpleasant emotion that is influenced by the state of being afraid or thinking that one is in danger. The physical manifestations of fear are displayed in a multitude of ways throughout the body and can be mild to extreme. Some of these symptoms include, headache, increased perspiration, palpitations, shortness of breath, feelings of choking, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and insomnia to name a few. These symptoms can become so severe and can cause one’s life to stop at a screeching halt in a matter of minutes. The cause of fear varies according to what an individual finds troubling and is specific to one individual to another. Often, people attempt to avoid the things that bring the emotion of fear, thus slowing them down in life by avoiding certain situations. Outside of situations that are unsafe, there are situations that are safe but healthy risks that one may be afraid to take. Sometimes these risks are opportunities of growth and personal development and although positive, they can trigger fear. The thing is fear can be so powerful it can cause one to choose to remain where they feel safe. There are a few ways to battle with the power of fear to live well.
Self-Reflect – When fear begins to show up in your body, it is a good time to take a step back and ask yourself a few questions. What brought on the feeling? Is the fear factual or is it an assumption about a specific result? What is the worst that could happen? What is the best thing that can happen? Would you be ok with choosing safety?
Circle of Friends – Find your tribe. A person or persons whose opinion that you respect can help you make important decisions. A supportive friend can help you differentiate fact from fiction and help you realize all of your great attributes. When deciding from a place of fear, stress is induced and mental clarity is inhibited, thus interrupting proper decision making. Genuine external encouragement is a gift as it helps one to push past fears.
The Present – What you choose today will show tomorrow! The mind is very powerful and must be renewed consistently to push past fears. One of the worst displays of fear is overthinking. Overthinking brings one into the future filled with “what ifs.” Most of the time the “what ifs” are fear based. Fear of failure, embarrassment or waste of time, effort, or money. Take some time to journal your fears to identify its cause. Next, consider what action you can take to counteract the fearful result that has been created in the mind. Fear is negative forward thinking, assuming the worst-case scenario. To be present with awareness of where you are in the moment, allows room for creativity and gratitude, thus increasing self-confidence and minimizing fear. Action – Procrastination is a form of fear. It is putting things off to avoid a certain end result. Consistency will help combat fear by creating a plan, set a time frame of completion and take steps towards a goal. Reflecting on the plan and the work that is completed helps to create a visual of the work accomplished. This decreases fear and encourages one to strive for more. Fear is an emotion that can be debilitating. Its symptoms can create an environment of stagnancy in one’s life. Self-reflection, a strong support system, mindfulness and taking action all help combat the power of fear allowing one space to step forward with courage.
