Don't Let Fears Stop You

What stops you from living an audaciously brilliant life? Fears can be a powerful force holding you back from what you desire. Fears come from a place deep within us that at one stage in our evolution kept us alive. At the dawn of humankind, fear of change and the unknown kept us from crossing that big river (and potentially drowning), or from leaving the tribe (and being eaten by something fierce), or running about in the dark (and perhaps falling into a ravine).

But in our day and age, there really are very few true "life and death" decisions that we have to fear. So why are we still riddled with doubt and fear over whether to have that tough conversation with our boss, or to take a chance on that new job offer?

What fears do you allow to stop you? What are you afraid of? What would you do if you weren't afraid?

Are these fears part of a healthy survival tool, or do they simply keep you in your comfort zone? Most fears we face these days are fear of the future, or the unknown, rather than actual dangers. What would happen if we lived every day without a trace of fear?

We would probably not perish, at least if we could temper the lack of fear with common sense. But we would live bolder, more vibrant, exciting lives! Imagine your life if you didn't stop to be afraid of what people would think before you did or said something, if your stomach didn't turn somersaults when doing something new, or if you didn't feel like crawling into a hole when faced with the opportunity to speak in front of a room of 200 people.

Sounds liberating doesn't it? Use these tools to reduce or vanquish fear from our mind; when you notice yourself feeling fear:
• Focus on the present moment. Because your fear is actually fear of something that hasn't happened yet (and may never happen), notice that at this moment, all is well.
• Remember the saying that FEAR stands for "false evidence appearing real." Recognize that perhaps what you’re afraid of is not actually present.
• Feel the fear and do it anyway -- push through it to prove to yourself you don't actually get eaten by the saber-tooth tiger. What happens in reality is probably not going to be anything as bad as what you'd feared.
• Try to switch into a place of faith rather than fear. Have faith that all will work out in the end.
• Try to imagine yourself having already done it, and having a positive outcome instead of what you’re fearing will happen.

Try to understand the dynamics of where your fears come from, and realize that they do not always serve you to help you live your life fully. Then use the above tips to manage your fears so you can move forward boldly!