Everyone has something they’re afraid of, whether they verbalize it or not. Sometimes it takes courage to confront your fears head-on. However, for those who don’t want to live their lives with this fear facing it, head-on can be therapeutic and improve your quality of life no end.
Regardless of your fear, be it becoming ill, a phobia of an inanimate object, or even an anxiety about being in public, there are small things you can do to help you address them and face them.
Be brave
Courage is a state of mind that propels us forward despite the fear. The ability to face one’s fears is an essential trait in today’s world, where many potential hazards could endanger our lives.
The initial step to becoming brave is understanding your own fears and what they signify. Acknowledging fear is essential for facing it head-on and frequently the only way to move past it.
Practice being brave by placing yourself in situations that make you uncomfortable or anxious but where the stakes are not as high. Doing this helps build up your courage muscles and conquer small fears to start taking more significant risks in the future.
Let’s say you fear spiders. Start by being in the presence of a smaller spider at a distance, and then, as you feel comfortable, reduce the space and increase the size of the spider until you have worked through your fears at your pace.
Stop judging yourself
It can be easy to fall into the trap of judging yourself for being silly for having this fear or avoiding a specific thing. However, this will only seek to further reinforce and feed the fear.
So instead, be kinder to yourself and give yourself a break. Remember, everyone has a fear of something. It’s human. And when you do catch yourself judging your behavior, stop and take a step back from the situation and change your internal monologue to something more positive.
Look at all the evidence.
What is it you are afraid of? And what do you think will happen to you in this situation? One massive step in facing your fears is to be analytical in your thinking. Try writing your worries down. Get them out of your head so you can address them easier.
Start with listing all the reasons why you are afraid and then what you think will happen when a situation occurs. Then assess the likelihood of this happening. Is it really as bad as you think it might be? In many cases, the answer will be no, but even if it’s a yes, having evidence, stats, and statistics from similar circumstances can be beneficial in helping to alleviate your fears.
Be rational in your thinking.
No matter the situation you find yourself in – whether a new business venture, uncertain career prospects or life-altering experience – rationality of thought is paramount. Rationality allows for informed decisions that lead to success and helps ensure your goals are achieved.
Rational thinking is a type of analysis that follows logical rules and takes into account existing facts. Additionally, it ensures that you consider all relevant factors when making a decision.
Have you blown things out of proportion? How can you address an escalation in circumstances when your fear occurs, and what are your options? Being rational about the whole experience can support your mindset to help you face your fears and even overcome them.
Get Professional Help
If you are struggling to overcome your fear or you feel it is affecting your life and mental health, then it might be worth considering getting professional help. There are various professionals who can help you work through and face your fears. Whether you are scared to go to rehab, and you need support from medical professionals to take this step, or you need to talk to a therapist to help you talk through why you feel this way and address your issues, or simply working with a hypnotherapist to help you conquer physical fears such as a fear of flying, a fear of eating certain foods or even a fear of an animal.
Conclusion: Facing your Fears and Finding Courage
It is never too late to face your fears and start working towards addressing them. Remember to work at your own pace and look at realistic ways to manage your problem for maximum benefits. Once you have this under control, you reap the benefits and enjoy the changes this can make to your whole life.
