Facing Your Fears

​Fears hold us back in many different ways. Facing these fears and breaking them down can be truly liberating. Use these tips to allow you to let go of what is holding you back. 

Identify
What are you frightened of and why? Find a moment to reflect and to name what it is that you are frightened of. Ask yourself why? Maybe you had a negative experience when you were younger, or it’s something you have never tried before and you don’t know where to start.
 
Once you are clear on what you are scared of and why, you can start to move forward.
 
Challenge
Change how you look at your fear by challenging your negative beliefs. Ask yourself:
-          How realistic it this fear?
-          Why do you accept this fear as fact?
-          Where is the evidence that your fear will happen?
-          How does this fear limit your life?
-          How would your life be different if you didn’t have this fear?
 
Change your thoughts around the fear. If you catch yourself saying, ‘I can’t do it’, ask yourself if that is true. Maybe you don’t have the knowledge to complete the task as things are. Remember to counter your negative thoughts with contrasting, realistic ones. Use this process to see your fear through a new perspective.
 
Plan
Now you are clear what the fear is, where it came from and what you would like to challenge about it, decide how you are going to work your way through it.
-          Start small
-          Make a plan how you would like to approach your challenge.
-          Break it down into manageable, steps, that will push you
-          Give yourself a timescale to work through the issue
-          Review your progress and tweak your goals if necessary
 
Practice
Practice is key to any new skill. You wouldn’t expect to be able to run a marathon tomorrow without training. This is the same with any new challenge. So remember, start small and keep chipping away at the fear until it is no longer holding you back.
 
Remember how well you have done
Unfortunately, we seem to be wired to remember what went wrong over what went right. But do remind yourself of your achievements as you work your way through your fear. Keep a record of what you did well while facing your fear and look back over it often to remind yourself how far you have come.