Learn to Overcome Your Fears

Everyone is afraid of something; and most of us want to overcome our fears. I, for one, am afraid of a lot of things. I’m afraid of something happening to my kids, of something happening to my husband, heights, spiders, snakes, snakes getting into my house, anything with more legs than me, and restaurants that sell an entire bottle of wine for less than a steak. I’m also afraid of failure. Fortunately, I’ve been able to overcome some of my fears and I’m here to tell you exactly how you can do the same.

Tell a Story

When something scares me, I mentally read it to myself like a story. I’m terrified of heights, but I have no problem flying. When my husband and friends planned a surprise zip-lining trip last month, I was terrified. When it came time to go up there and do what I needed to do, I watched my friends do it and told myself a story, “My husband is safely harnessed. He is attached to the rope. No one dies here. The guides are really good. He is letting go of the platform with his feet. He is shouting with excitement that it’s so much fun. It’s been five seconds and now he is safely on the platform on the other side of the zip line.” Telling myself that story like I was reading it in a book made it easier for me to deal with; and after the first zip, I was in love with the activity and plan on going again.

Admit My Fear

Some fears are not the kind you say out loud. I am terrified of failure and I’ve never told anyone that. One day, I told my husband that I’d received an opportunity to write for one of the most well-known brands in the world and I was terrified to do it. He asked me why, and I told him that I was afraid I’d fail. He pointed out that failure probably won’t happen, because I’m good at what I do. However, if I did fail, what I’d learn from failing at that particular task would make me much better at the next one I attempted. You know what? He was right. I haven’t failed, and I’ve learned more than I ever imagined.

Change Your Point of View

When I want to do something I’m afraid of, I make a bet with a ruthless friend. For $100 I can do it. He says I can’t, I say I can. I hate to lose, so that always motivates me to do what I am otherwise afraid of because it becomes a challenge rather than an opportunity to overcome my fears.

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