Facing Fears

IntrospectiveSunday

Fear is an unusual and diverse emotion; it can be debilitating or it can be motivating; it can halt you in your tracks or it can make you run.  Some choose to avoid their fears and some look them in the eye with every bit of courage they have.  I for one am a woman who has faced some and hid from others.  That is the most likely scenario.  Have you ever met anyone who was afraid of every thing or someone who wasn’t afraid of anything?  I haven’t.

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

Imaginations

Have you ever been in a place that just felt creepy; did you get goose bumps and swear that someone was watching you?  Sometimes those feelings might have a valid source or they might just be your imagination.  It’s in this same way that we can concoct the most terrifying scenes in our minds concerning other life situations – again, our imagination.  Fear actually brings in a serious influx of creativity – the scary kind.

The Worst Thing That Can Happen

Though I wouldn’t recommend dwelling on bad things, it could be helpful to write down your problem or situation and then, beside it, write the worst thing that could happen as a result of the first thing.  Your fear-facing challenge comes in the next step.  Write out how you could handle the “worst”.  Example:  I’m afraid of losing my job.  If I do lose my job, I will have no money.  If this happens, I can search for a new job, go back to school, borrow some money, downsize my lifestyle, sell off some things I don’t need, or ask for government help.  You know ahead of time how to deal with life’s curve balls.  In some cases there may not be anything you can do.  This is something that you have to accept and simply move on.

“I will face my fears. I want to be able say I’ve swum with sharks.”

Amy Nuttall quotes

One Step at a Time

Just as with any change, facing fears is something that needs to happen when you’re ready.  If you jump too fast without the proper mental fortitude, you might end up slipping further into a state of anxiety.  Make your approach with caution and with the understanding that  things might not turn out anything like you imagined – good or bad.  This isn’t the time to make hasty decisions based on emotions either.  Wait until you are calm, then tackle the situation.  Forgive all the sports analogies; I’m a tomboy at heart.

What are you afraid of, and how do you plan to face it?  Please share your ideas with us.  Be well-be beautiful.

Photo by Super Nerd Chick