Fear gets to the best of us, whether it is fear of failure, fear of success, or even fear of fear. All of us have experienced fear at some point in our lives and it can be a real stumbling block that holds us back from being truly successful.
But fear can’t hold you back forever if you don’t let it. There are several ways to overcome fear.
In this article I share with you my top 9 strategies to combat fear:
1. SEPARATE REALITY FROM PERCEPTION
Ask yourself what is really going on, locate the facts and place them over your feelings. It’s a good way to combat fear.
2. IDENTIFY THE TRIGGER
Figure out what it is in a situation that triggers you. Learning to identify it will help you learn to combat it.
3. KNOW WHERE FEAR LIVES IN YOUR BODY
A lot of times, fear takes over physically. It affects different people different ways. Identify if/how it affects your physical body and do the work to take care of your body. For example, if you hold stress in your back, you can learn stretches, use foam rollers to avoid the pain. Also familiarize yourself with mindfulness practices and learn to accept your present state.
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4. PRACTICE GRATITUDE BEST STRATGY TO COMBAT FEAR
Every day, list out one to three things you are thankful for. It doesn’t matter how big or small they are, gratitude helps shift the mind into a positive light, which over time, overcomes fear.
5. COMBAT FEAR BY LISTENING TO YOUR INNER VOICE
Monitor your inner conversations. If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself. Speak positively to yourself and remind yourself of your strengths. Practice positive affirmations daily!
6. CREATE A NEW ASSOCIATION TO COMBAT FEAR
Remind yourself that the feeling and the moment will pass. Focus on the positive outcome of any situation, rather than the scary in-between.
7. LOOK AT THE GLASS HALF FULL
Perception is a very powerful thing, and how you feel about your situation dictates how you respond to it. So think positively and you’ll give yourself a much better chance of success. This won’t happen overnight; practice with just one thought. What is one recurring negative/fearful thought you have? Work on reversing this one thought. Overtime, this will become a habit.
8. PRACTICE BREATHING EXERCISES
Breathing helps center your body; when you stop breathing, your heart stops beating. You can do a grounding exercise, or even just take 5 deep, long breaths at any point to calm and center yourself. It is best to start your day with this, but you can practice mindful breathing exercises at any time and any place during the day.
9. CREATE A SAFE SPACE
When you feel safe and secure, there is no room for fear. Find somewhere safe you can retreat to when ill feelings begin – whether this is a real place such as at your coffee table on the balcony or a place in your mind such as the memories of a trip to the beach. This sense of comfort will soothe you and allow you to face your fears.
Please keep in mind, these are just 9 strategies, and not everything works for everyone. But this is a place to start. Start implementing these techniques into your life and don’t let fear hold you back from reaching your goals and your highest potential!
