We all go through this life with a dream to pursue or a goal to meet. Our need for achievement fuels us to take risks and make our lives more meaningful. Yet, it is safe to say that all of us carry some sort of fear, anxiety, or worry. These fears are like roadblocks that can hindrance our paths to success. These obstacles can slow you down, inflict self-doubt, and even worse, ultimately convince you to ditch your objectives. Still, you should realize that these roadblocks exist for a reason and that is our job to eliminate it. After all, the ability to overcome fear is what sets successful people apart from the unsuccessful ones.
Here are five simple tips to combat your fears and crush your worries:
Identify Your Fears
“To win in every battle, know yourself and know the enemy,” this pretty much sums up a quote from a Chinese philosopher, Sun Tzu in the book, The Art of War. The first step in managing your fear is by acknowledging it. Identify things that scare you and the possible reasons for it. It can be a fear of rejection, of public speaking, or even heights. Acknowledging your fears will help you understand yourself better and will make it easier for you to come up with ways on how to deal with it. The idea is that once you are aware of your fears, you can now take steps towards eliminating the bumps on your road to success.
Visualize and Meditate
Take advantage of the power of the mind to help you manifest your goals in life. You can start by allotting a few minutes of your day in silence and meditation. As you meditate, visualize yourself conquering your fears and enjoying success. The practice of meditation can clear your mind and lessen your anxiety, thus increasing your confidence to deal with your fears.
Create a Personal Mantra
They say that we should guard our thoughts because thoughts become words and words turn into actions. So, make sure that your inner voice will give the inspiration and encouragement you need to face your fears. Go ahead and develop a mantra that will remind you of your abilities and your goals. A mantra that will shun all sorts of fears aside. Give yourself a daily dose of positive affirmations and watch how it transforms your life for the better. You can write down your personal mantra in a journal or place it somewhere you can always see.
Face Your Fears
These fears are like stones that appear to get bigger the longer you stare at it. The moment you decide to pick up the stone, you realize it is not as heavy or as big as it seems. The same concept applies to how we deal with fear. You can start by doing something that allows you to confront your fears. For instance, if you are afraid of public speaking, you can share your thoughts in a small meeting. If you are afraid of rejection, you can start submitting proposals. It is great if your proposal gets approved but If you get rejected, you just realize it is not nearly as crushing as you imagined it to be. Most of the times, failure only means another chance to try again. Facing your fears on a regular basis will gradually lessen its impact on your life and in no time, you will realize, it ceased to affect you at all.
Choose Your Friends
If you are constantly stressed or anxious, it may be because you are surrounded by people who bring you down. Dealing with your fear is already a huge feat on your own, so having friends to support you along the way is a must. The people we interact daily affects us in more ways than we realize so spend time with those who will motivate you to be the best you can be.
The road to overcoming fears may seem intimidating at first, but every effort you make towards erasing your anxieties count. A small step will go a long way and in no time, you will see that you have successfully gotten over it.
