FEAR? FACE THEM

Everyone has fears. I do, you do, everyone does! The only difference between you and the successful people you admire is that they are willing to take risks and move through their fears.

So many people allow fear to rob them of their reasoning, halt their happiness, or derail their dreams.

If you don't learn how to face your fear it will grip your mind, body, and spirit.

The next time you're in a scary situation try this;

1. Know your fears
Take note of your fears and it's origination. How has it affected you? Reflect on what you've written. When you take note of your fear, fear loses its power over you.

2. Challenge your fears
Do the things that give you fear. Take one small step, then another. Action builds courage. Tell yourself, "I shall overcome this fear". Your world expands as your courage and willingness to grow expands.

3. Relax your body
Unclench your jaw, soften your forehead, open your fists, slow down your pounding heart, and breathe. Take mini relaxation breaks throughout your day. Learn to live in a relaxed state.

4. Stop your stories
Fear is an illusion. We make up scary stories about our past and our future and rehearse them until we are terrified. Our stories are often about the pain of the past or the fear of the future. You can find safety by learning to live in the present moment. You always have the option to create new stories filled with positive expectations of the future.

5. Laugh at your fears
Make fun of your fear by laughing at it. Try and see how silly it is to hold back and give your power away to something that isn't real!

6. Dwell on abundance
Learn to think, speak, and live as an abundant person to face your fears. Stop paying attention to all forms of negative media. Celebrate your life. Be generous. Give. Donate. Share.

7. Live boldly
Show the ability to take risks, be confident and courageous and you'll be on your path to greatness.

9. Have self-esteem
reflect on your overall emotional evaluation of your own worth. Focus your attention on being ready, willing, and prepared for the success, joy, wonder, connections, good fortune, and awesome circumstances that are yours. You deserve the best no matter what.

10. Learn something new
Do you lack information or direction? Develop your intuition. Get a mentor. Be a life-long learner. Give it your all. Take action on what you learn. Fear fades in an environment of this kind.

11. Take out the trash(fear)
Let go of looking stupid, feeling embarrassed, being ignored and facing rejection or failure. Accept failure as a part of life. Get through it and get over it.

12. Help others
Give to the beginners. Be a good leader. Take others with you and help them succeed as well. What would life be like if we believed in, "All for one, and one for all?" We all want the same things in life.

13. View life as a wild adventure
Life can be brimming with good times of beauty and adventure or overwhelming with challenge and tragedy. Choose to stay present and breathe through it all. Be grateful for the varied landscape, hold onto your hat, and enjoy the ride.

A few quotes about fears;

1) Abraham Maslow, psychologist: "I have learned the novice can often see things that the expert overlooks. All that is necessary is not to be afraid of making mistakes, or of appearing naive."

2) Bill Cosby, comedian: "Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it."

3) Gandhi, spiritual/political leader: "The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear."

4) Winston Churchill, UK politician. statesman; former British Prime Minister: "When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened."

5) Judy Blume, author: "Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it."

6) Don Miguel Ruiz, author, speaker, Shaman: Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive—the risk to be alive and express what we really are."

7) Ralph Waldo Emerson, essayist, poet, philosopher: "When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers."

8) Dale Carnegie, speaker, writer: "Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy."

9) Oprah Winfrey, television pioneer, actress/producer: "The thing you fear most has no power. Your fear of it is what has the power. Facing the truth really will set you free."

10) Henry Ford, US indistrialist: "One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do." 

11) Frank Sinatra, singer, actor: "Fear is the enemy of logic."

12) Colin Powell, US statesman; four-star general: "Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers."

And of course, the classic ...

13) Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd US President: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
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