As much as you try to avoid it, fear will always show up in all areas of life. Here’s how you can push through it, and find yourself in a better place.
BY: REGAN WALSH
Fear is something we all experience in life. It can come up for you under different circumstances, showing up when you least expect it.
How aware of fear are you? Ask yourself the following questions:
- What is one fear you are wrestling with today?
- How does this fear feel physically in your body?
- Is there a time of day that triggers this fear into high gear?
- If this fear didn’t exist, what would you be doing differently?
And while the answers to the first question can differ, the answers to the others can show up similarly.
- Fear shows up physically: as tightness in the throat, shoulders, and chest. Increased heart rate. Shortness of breath. Racing thoughts.
- It shows up at any time of day: when you’re taking part in self-care, such as working out, unwinding with a loved one watching a movie, or taking a shower), when there is a lull in the workday, or even in the middle of the night when your body is supposed to be restoring.
- If the fear didn’t exist, you would likely: delegate more, unplug, say no, celebrate daily wins, trust your intuition, and put your daydreams into action.
In other words, fear can stop you from fully enjoying your time in the present.
Here are three ways you can push through your fears, so you can start doing more of what you love.
1. Expect realistic outcomes.
Understanding your worst-case scenarios helps weaken the power of your fears. Try writing down realistic outcomes, then review that list. What is the worst thing that could happen? Can you live with it?
2. Observe your fear, don’t fuse with it.
Think of fear as a cape. When you feel it paralyzing you from making progress (or invading your self-care time, which you need to make progress in all other areas of life), start visualizing taking the cape off. Look at it and acknowledge that it’s there, but choose to not put it on. Block out a time when you can neutrally address that fear, and be done with it.
3. Call upon your track record.
Remember that you’ve felt fear before, and you’ve conquered it. Dial up what you learned from past successes to take the next step forward. You’ve got this.
If you haven’t answered it yet, I challenge you to answer Question 4 now: If fear didn’t exist, what would you be doing differently? Whether it’s making a bold career move or simply scheduling a massage,
Weed out your fears so you can relish your life.
Adapted from the original article.
HEADER IMAGE: CANDICE PICARD
Regan Walsh is an NYU-certified life coach and speaker who focuses on helping women who are over-programmed and underwhelmed, reclaim their lives, both personally and professionally. She is located in Columbus, Ohio and coaches women from all over the world. Regan contributes to Harvard Business Review and Forbes, and has been featured in FAST Company, Elite Daily, Bustle, Smart Business, and Columbus CEO.