Fear is a natural emotion. A very natural one, in fact, as it’s come from the hindbrain. The subconscious automatic part of ourselves that is designed to help us survive. Fear can be useful as it gets us out of potentially dangerous situations or can prepare the body to cope with them in a way that means survival is more likely. However, when fear blocks you from fulfilling your full potential in life, it became problematic and needs to be dealt with. With this in mind, you will find some techniques to help you do just this discussed below.
Meditation
A life dominated by fear isn’t a very pleasant one, and as a response to this many of us push our fears down and hide them away. However, this is likely to result in difficulties with anxiety and depression because it’s a very difficult trying to be in constant control of our inner emotional landscape. An alternative to this is to allow such sensations of fear while meditating. Meditating is a simple activity where we direct the attention gently towards the breath. It’s expected that certain thoughts, feelings, and sensations will come up including fearful ones and during the meditative process, we acknowledge that they are there and we just return our attention to the breath.
The benefit of such an exercise is that we learn to accept our inner experience and also not to put too much stock by it. Yes, we can be afraid, but we can choose to not act in line with that fear and do the things that will help us fulfill our potential anyway. In this way, we neither push away the fear sensations or let them dominate our lives.
Hypnosis
Another useful strategy for dealing with fear in our life is to practice a skill like Ericksonian hypnosis. This is a process of finding a positive emotion, one where we feel confident, happy, and calm and transferring this to a situation that we may be struggling with.
For example, you may have a lot of fear about visiting the dentists to get that root canal done, but with Ericksonian hypnosis, you can recall and anchor a time when you were calm and in control to use during your dental appointment. Thus allowing you to do what needs to get done with less discomfort.
CBT
Lastly, another useful way of dealing with the fear that is preventing you from doing things that are important to you in your life is CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This is primarily a way of reframing our thoughts to remove some of the fearful charges from them. The idea is that we identify the automatic thoughts we have in a fearful situation such as: “I can’t do this,” “I’m too afraid,” “I can’t take the pain,” and “what if it goes wrong?” Challenging these with a more balanced view.
It’s not about removing the fear completely and kidding yourself that you are OK with something that is a little scary, but it’s about having a more realistic, less distorted view of the task ahead of you. Something that can make doing scary things a lot easier.
I have so enjoyed getting lost in your blog tonight! Sleepless nights but fabulous reading. Thank you. 😍
Such a lovely compliment and I thank you for it! I enjoy your blog too :D
My fear is of heights…..have I overcome it…nope…I’ve had to deal with it as where I work I have to work at height when needed,scares me sometimes when I’m at 4 mtrs+ up in an open ‘cage’ & it’s moving around with me working in it….
Interesting…
Fear is a big thing and keeps people from being able to live in the present moment. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is you’ve got to be ok that everything is uncertain. Fear comes from feeling like you have no control. We have to be able to dance with it. We have to bend and flex with life. The more you practice this the more fear will disappear.
Very helpful post👍
I’ve heard a lot of success stories with hypnosis. Great article! :) xx
I recently started to catch myself passing on certain opportunities due to fear and I hate it. I’ve been trying to find ways to get rid of it so finding this post came at the perfect time! Your writing is beautiful and helpful. Definitely following you have some amazing articles! Much love xx
I have seen wonders taking place through meditation. What a great and informative post, Christy :)
This was encouraging. Thank for sharing it here.
This is really helpful and motivating!
Beautiful and encouraging post!! A must read by all specially the teenagers and growing children !!
I can’t agree more with every comment I have read. This is a beautiful reminder and motivation to get better actively. Thank you for sharing!!!
Good suggestions, Christy! Fear can make itself seem insurmountable but it can be overcome!
I love this! I used to meditate all the time, and I havnt in months! Thanks for inspiring me to get back to it 🤗
Well done, Christy – and good suggestions. What’s especially tricky about fear is that we sometimes aren’t even sure what it is that we’re afraid of – only that we have an anxious feeling in the pit of our stomach that sends us running for relief.
Your #1 suggestion is helpful calming us down, in that case – or so I’ve found in my own life anyway — followed by an affirmation that we will be able to manage whatever as we come to it (specific to each person).
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
Affirmation is so important and I’m glad you’ve pointed that out, Madelyn. It is about knowing ourselves better and of course that takes work on our part… Your comment is appreciated! <3
As is your reply, my friend.
xx,
mgh
It’s a good list, Christy. Some people want a quick fix but there are none. It something that needs to be worked on. Cheers
Good advice, Christy.
Thanks Amy for your visits this week ~ Always love seeing your smile :)