Conquer Your Fear

There are a lot of frightened people out there. We tend to allow our minds to go to the worse case scenario, and then come up with new ways things could get worse. This state of mind only makes our fears appear more real and present. These fear-based images and self talk can be so powerful that we freeze and take no action at all. Living this way only helps to make the things we fear to become a reality. You can conquer your fear of anything using the following 7 methods.

Stop Defending Your Fears

We tend to defend our fears to the death. We act as if our fear exists and can never be tamed. We therefore hold ourselves captive by what we fear, and never make a true attempt to get passed it.

Instead, understand that the vast majority of your fears were learned. The good news is that if they were learned, then you can learn a way to eliminate them or do what needs to be done in spite of them. Start by first stopping the defense of your fears. Then change your attitude about them. Decide that you can conquer them. Then find the way that works best for you to do so.

Remember

Every one of us has had major things that we feared in our past. We thought that something so horrific was going to happen. You’ve had more than one situation in your life that was the biggest issue in your life up to that point. Here’s the thing…you survived it every single time. Either the thing you feared didn’t happen, it happened to a much lesser degree, or it happened as you imagined and you were able to handle it.

Look back over your life time. Remember the biggest issues in your life at those times. Remember how you thought of them then. Consider what you think of them now that you were able to move past them. With the issues you fear today, will they still be the huge issue in your life in 2 years? 5 years? 10 years?

Control What You Can Control

If there is something you fear, but the result is within your control, why fear it? You may need to work harder or longer, learn more, ask for assistance or stretch your skills outside of your comfort zone. All of these things are within your control.

Likewise, if something is outside of your control, why worry about it? You can’t stop it, change it or influence it. Therefore, any thoughts of worry about it would be a waste of time. All you can control is your response to it. Therefore, put your thoughts and energy into your response.

In short, if you can control it, don’t worry about it and focus on controlling it. If you can’t control it, don’t worry about it because there is nothing you can do about it. Focus on your response to it instead.

Visualizatio

World-class athletes, top executives, and those who have reached the highest levels of success in their respective areas use visualization. Stephen Covey calls it, “begin with the end in mind” in “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. “The Magic of Thinking Big” is another great reference book for visualization. When you begin to create negative images of what you fear, stop yourself. Then, replace it with a powerful image of you successfully overcoming your fear. After doing the work to consistently replace fear-based images with images of success, you will develop a new thought pattern.

Fear only exists in thought. It isn’t real. F.E.A.R. as an acronym stands for “False Experiences (or Expectations) Appearing Real”. If fear exists in thought, who controls your thoughts? You do! So, swap out the bad for the good. Replace the negative with the positive. Eliminate the un-useful for the useful. Visualize what you want to have happen. Stop visualizing what you don’t want to happen.

Find a Motivation That Is Stronger Than Your Fear

You may be afraid of starting a new business. However, you fear not having an income after losing your job and having difficulty finding another. Your motivation to earn may be stronger than your fear of failing a new business venture. You may be afraid of being completely vulnerable to a new love after a past hurt. However, you fear losing the one you love due to your decision to not open up. Your motivation to love may be stronger than your fear of being hurt.

With this strategy, you aren’t conquering fear. You are finding something far more powerful than fear to power through any imagined threats. Whenever you feel fearful, go back to what motivates you to keep on keepin’ on.

Do What Must Be Done In Spite Of Fear

Your fear of something doesn’t actually stop you from doing it. You have a fear, you make a decision not to do something because of that fear, and then you don’t move forward. The definition of courage is to do something that must be done in spite of your fear of it.

Instead of allowing fear to stop you, allow it to start you on a pathway to accomplishment. Every time you push pass a fear, you make the next fear easier to deal with. Be smart about it. Be safe while doing it. Learn from those that have done it before you have. Then do what must be done in spite of your fear of it.

Prayer and Meditatio

When you are in the space of spiritual energy through either prayer or meditation, fear cannot exist there. Why? You cannot truly experience the unconditional love that prayer and meditation offers AND have fear-based thoughts. Fear and love cannot exist in the same space.

Also, when you are connecting to your spiritual source (whatever name you call it), you can ask for guidance to overcome that which you are afraid of. You can also leave your worries with your spiritual source and have faith in yourself. F.A.I.T.H. is also an acronym, standing for “Facts Accepted In The Heart”. Accept in your heart that you have nothing to fear. Go back to your spiritual space several times a day and know that all is happening exactly as it should. Have F.A.I.T.H. that there is nothing to F.E.A.R.