It’s been said that the only thing to fear is fear itself. But that’s not easy to believe when you are facing a situation that makes you want to run and hide to avoid it. This can certainly include big life challenges that threaten your perception of safety and security, but it can also include simpler things like pursuing an important goal. At some point, fear creeps in and you suddenly feel powerless and unsure about your ability to handle it.
During times like these, it’s helpful to understand what fear really is. Fear is a built-in survival mechanism that is designed to keep you safe. When you perceive a potential threat, your nervous system kicks into overdrive and your body reacts by preparing to handle the threat. This usually means that your heart beats faster, your breathing becomes rapid and shallow, your muscles tense, and you may feel a rush of adrenaline coursing through your body. This reaction can happen when you are facing an actual physical threat, but it can also happen in situations that are truly not dangerous, such as getting up to speak in front of a group of people.
One of the greatest skills that you can ever master is the ability to push through fear when it’s clear that there is no real danger in a situation. If you are pursuing an important goal, or you want to try something new, or you just want to step out of your comfort zone more often, fear is most likely going to make an appearance at one time or another. It’s a completely normal and natural reaction. When this happens, you will have an important choice to make: do you allow it to stop you, or do you push forward anyway?
If you still feel hesitant to move forward even though you can clearly see that there is no real danger in a particular situation, you might find it helpful to employ a simple mental trick. Remind yourself that fear is nothing more than a physiological response to a negative expectation. You are looking at a situation and thinking about what might go wrong, which feels threatening to you.
However, you could just as easily focus on a positive expectation by looking at the same situation and considering the ways that it might work out wonderfully for you. What would you potentially gain if you moved forward? When you focus on a positive outcome like this, your feelings of fear can quickly transform into a genuine sense of excitement about the possibilities, and even the courage to take a step forward.
It may take some practice and patience to retrain your mind to see the possibilities rather than honing in on potential pitfalls, but it is time and effort well-spent. The truth is, behind every wall of fear that arises in your consciousness lies a great treasure just waiting to be discovered. Sometimes these treasures will be tangible gains, such as great opportunities or increased prosperity. But the more valuable treasures will be things like a sense of exhilaration and appreciation for your ability to overcome fear and create a life that is so much bigger, richer, and more fulfilling than you ever could have realized by continuing to hold back.
