Doing scary things helps you grow! End.
The magic happens outside your comfort zone! Well-meaning though the sentiments may be, they’re unhelpful without the why.
If anything, I have learned within past few year (since I started researching more about myself), is that fear serves a real and important purpose - keeping me out of harm's way and it is the ultimate tool for growth, personal growth.
And by saying so, I cannot agree more with Eleanor Roosevelt's saying,
'You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.'
1. You should face your fears
Let me tell you something, fear is a bully. It tells you what to do, and when you obey it, it gains power. However, when you acknowledge what fear tells you but do the opposite, you build courage. That's all I can say. Overcome your fears otherwise you will get eaten by them.
'An individual develops courage by doing courageous acts.' by Aristotle
2. Always think through the worst case scenario
Again, remember -'fear is your buddy not bully. It is an indicator. Sometimes it shows you what you shouldn’t do. More often than not it shows you exactly what you should do. And the best results that I've had in life, the most enjoyable times, have all been from asking a simple question, 'What’s the worst that can happen?' ;) Just think through the outcome that makes you most afraid, so that you can then consider how you would deal with it were it to happen. Fear doesn’t ever really go away, nor should it. But confronting it is the way to move forward. And you grow again. As a person.
3. Overcome your fears
The most effective, scientific approach to eliminating fear is to systematically expose yourself to the thing that scares you, starting small and building tolerance as you work your way up.
'Exposure is hands down the most successful way to deal with phobias, anxiety disorders, and everyday fears of any sort,' says neuroscientist Philippe Goldin. 'Simply repeatedly exposing ourselves to the thing we’re afraid of — ideally in a positive way — gradually brings down the physiologic fear response until it’s gone, or at least manageable.'
4. Do the opposite of what’s best for you
As with stress and other 'negative' emotions, let me tell you, a certain amount of fear is healthy and very welcomes, if not beneficial in the end ;). Fear’s insidiousness hides on the the invisible line between what’s healthy and what isn’t. The challenge is in determining when to listen to fear, and when to ignore it. That line and therefore the determination whether to obey our fear or face it down comes into view when we ask what’s in our best long-term interest. Wire to your inner thoughts and listen to yourself. Take a break from daily routine, contemplate, seek answers.
And remember, the more you listen to fear, the more power you give it.
Fortunately, the converse is true, the more you face fear down, the more control you have.
Once you understand that, you can systematically expose yourself to the things that scare you, and in that way, propel yourself forward.
And grow again.
Never stop growing. Improving. Seeking for answers.
Live life. Now.
Until next time, S.
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