Through self-awareness, you can unlock hope for the future and channel your inner voice. The first step is in acknowledging that it’s natural to be afraid.
In fact, some of the most fearless people in the world are afraid of something or other in their lives. The difference is that they realize how the risks brought on by their fears can be managed.
If they can’t be controlled, at least these risks are better than living in a self-made prison being trapped by those fears.
Yet, how do they do that exactly? Well, if you’re looking for ways to embrace fearlessness, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, I’m going to tell you some of the most important factors that can help shape your outlook on fears.
Let’s get started.
Learn To Master Your Fears
Fear is an emotion. Why is that important to know? Because you are the master controller of your emotions. Well, at least your thoughts are.
Why not try to flip your negative thoughts around? Instead of putting up with self-sabotaging talk, focus your attention on something more positive and hopeful.
Only then will you be able to live a truly fulfilling life. As Arianna Huffington says, “We will never completely eliminate fear from our lives, but we can definitely get to the point where our fears don’t stop us from daring to think new thoughts, try new things, take risks, fail, start again, and be happy.”
Strengthen Your ‘Fearless’ Muscles
The day you take the plunge and do something that scares you is the day you’ll stop fearing fear. Plus, the easier it’ll become the next time you’re up against a challenge.
The reason? Well, scientists believe that courage is like a muscle. What happens when you do some weight lifting exercises? Your muscles will get stronger and your body will become leaner. Not to mention your confidence will get a nice boost.
It’s the same way with fearlessness. When you strengthen your ‘fearless’ muscles repeatedly, they will grow. As a result, you become less afraid to take risks.
The fear may still be there. But it’s not the one calling the shots anymore. The only person in charge of your life is you.
Come Face-To-Face With Your Weaknesses
Many times when we’re afraid of something, we don’t come out and say it. Instead, we let fear manifest itself through other means. Those are our weaknesses.
For example, some people become angry when they’re scared. They lash out because they’re terrified and don’t know how to manage their fear.
Another example is the fear of failure. This is one of the most common fears ever. We’re all afraid of failing, which is why we’ve become masters in the art of procrastination.
We delay and we stall, then we delay some more. All in the hope that, somehow, someway, our fear of failing will disappear into thin air.
Sorry, life doesn’t work that way. Life gives you as much as you put in. So, the only way out of this is to force yourself to get started. Today.
If you’re still feeling it, why not break down the one big, scary task into several smaller ones? This will effectively disarm your fear of failure. Then, you’ll be able to actually get things done, instead of just talking about it.
Stay Hopeful
As Stephen Palmer once said, “We don’t give up because we encounter challenges. We give up when we lose hope that we can overcome them. Hope, more than perseverance, is the linchpin of success.”
The great thing about hope is that it gives you certain skills. The most important is the power to analyze whatever problem comes your way. Think about the why and how. Then, use that information to overcome any obstacle you come across.
So, even if you’re up against a difficult situation, stay hopeful you’ll find a way out. Have faith in your abilities and the self-confidence you need to push through.
Practice saying positive mantras. Tell yourself that you’re capable of getting through this challenge just as you have many before.
This is how you grow and learn. It’s also how you can expand your comfort zone and try new things with buzzing excitement, rather than mind-numbing fear.
