An average of 19 million people in the U.S. suffer from extreme fear and phobias, which can make it easy to suffer from stress and anxiety. Fear can develop at any age and can cause you to feel controlled. You may be afraid to participate in certain activities or even take risks. Some types of fear can lead to addiction and dependencies on substances as a way to feel more at ease and relaxed. Fortunately, fear doesn’t have to be a life sentence. There are ways to learn how to minimize fear and strengthen your mental fortitude. Here are a few important facts to learn when you want to know when fear will stop controlling your life.
Discover the Source of the Fear
Although you may try to learn different ways to cope with your fear, the techniques won’t work effectively if you don’t discover the source of the fear. Consider when the fear developed, whether it was recently or during childhood. There may have been a specific event that caused you to fear for your life.
Perhaps a parent has had the same fear and encouraged you to adopt it. Consider working with a counselor or therapist to discover the source of the fear. Once you have a better understanding of it, it can be easier to feel more in control. Working with a mental health professional can also make it easier to hear an objective perspective and work through any trauma you’ve experienced.
Don’t Give Yourself Permission to Make Excuses
Making excuses for your fear is a defense mechanism that won’t allow you to face the fear and overcome it. Although your excuses may be understandable, they can keep you from having freedom over your anxiety. Start getting into the habit of not allowing yourself to make excuses. This requires accepting that it’ll be uncomfortable to work through your feelings. You’ll need to make a conscious effort to make certain steps forward, even if those feelings of fear are still lingering. Once you discover that you’re still alive and your fears don’t manifest, it’ll be easier to feel more in control.
Prioritize Self-Care
Taking care of yourself is key to understanding that fear doesn’t have any place in your life. When you have time to rest and recharge, it gives you the ability to have a positive mindset. Treating yourself to a day at the spa or time spent golfing can help you to develop more confidence and have a better outlook.
Make a list of self-care activities you want to enjoy to ensure you prioritize them and make them for them each week. Do what makes you happy and allows you to feel fulfilled instead of drained. Changing your diet and practicing better habits can also allow you to have a better mood and feel more energized.
Remain Thankful
It’s a lot easier to have fear in life if you’re not thankful or have a perspective of abundance. You can’t feel at peace if you have a negative view of your life and the world around you. Start by remaining thankful for what you have and make a list of what you consider to be your blessings. Wake up with gratitude rather than dread for the day ahead.
Shifting your thoughts and focus will make it easier to change how you think to make it more positive and avoid giving in to fear. Staying fully present in the moment and not allowing your mind to drift to the future will also allow you to avoid fearing and thinking about the unknown. Get into the habit of experiencing the situation you’re currently in and giving attention to how you feel.
Accept Failure
When you accept that failure is inevitable, it’ll be a lot easier to embrace it. Whether you have fear in your relationships or in your career, you can choose to respond positively or negatively to failure. Consider failure as a learning lesson that helps you to grow and learn from your mistakes. If you want to learn more about how to prevent fear from controlling your life, feel free to contact us at 772-266-5320.