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How To Stop Being Afraid Of Everything

I have lived a moment in time when fear dictated all my choices. Whether it was as simple as raising my voice during a meeting or as serious as making a life decision, I was paralyzed with fear.

It was not just the obvious fears like failure or rejection, but it was the ever-present fear of being inadequate, my fear of not being good enough, not measuring up, and of making the wrong decision.

It made me feel like I was in a loop of worry and anxious thoughts, as I never felt like I was good enough. I wished to escape, to cease leading a life of dread. But how?

I discovered that before I could thwart my fears, I needed to get to know them. I just had to confront them directly and admit to myself that I was afraid, but it did not mean that fear had to have power over me.

Gradually, I started making little purposeful changes in my life that helped me move my thinking pattern and face my fears. As time elapsed, I learned that the bravery to approach fear is gained through acceptance of it and, nevertheless, proceeding.

This is what I discovered as I pursued my quest to no longer be afraid of everything, and how you can start to work on it too:

How To Stop Being Afraid Of Everything (2)

How To Stop Being Afraid Of Everything

1. Know What You Are Scared Of

There is danger in the unknown, and over the years, I lived in fear of what I could not comprehend. As I began to take time to think about the fears I had and actually comprehend the origin of those fears, things began to change. Fear is usually based on past experiences, restrictive thoughts, or a feared future.

By taking a direct route to address my fears—i.e., asking myself what I was afraid of—I noticed that some of my fears were mostly blown out of proportion or dead wrong. Knowing the cause of your fear is the initial step toward breaking it down.

Related: How To Stop Living In Fear

2. Exercise Intrepid, Little Steps

I spent so long thinking that conquering anxiety involved sweeping, enormous change. However, I soon discovered that small steps, which looked minute and incremental, were equally effective. I began to fight each fear one at a time, as simply as my voice in the conversation, trying something new without thinking about it first.

Every minor defeat gave me self-confidence, and as I went on, I got stronger. These little acts of courage, over time, saw me gradually getting out of the clutches of fear.

Related: Higher Self : How To Awaken Your Higher Self

3. Refute Your Negative Thinking

Whenever we are scared, the mind naturally drifts toward negative thinking. I observed that the more I felt fear creeping in, the more I would tend to consider the worst-case scenario. However, when I began to question these unhelpful thoughts by asking, “What is the actual possibility of this happening?” I started to realize that my fears were usually overdramatized.

I discovered that fear was usually grounded in irrational thinking. By shifting my mindset and changing my frame of thinking about situations, I was now able to view things more clearly and less fearfully.

4. Embrace Uncertainty

The desire to be certain was one of the greatest causes of what I called my fear. I did not want to do something without knowing what would result exactly. However, life cannot be controlled, and making every attempt to control everything contributed to my anxiety.

With time, I also began to accept uncertainty. I no longer waited until everything was ideal; I figured out and acted before I knew everything. I realized that uncertainty was not something to be scared of but something to live with in life. I had been entering the unknown and had become free.

Related: 9 Effective Ways to Believe in Yourself

5. Practice Self-Compassion

Fear always informed me that I was not good enough whenever I encountered a challenge or made a mistake. However, I taught myself to fight this with self-compassion. I began to treat myself just as well and offer the same compassion and consideration as I could to a friend who had a rough patch.

This made me practice self-compassion to stop condemning myself over my fears and instead extend grace to myself. I understood that part of the journey was making mistakes and being scared of them—and that did not make me a lesser person or less able to do it.

6. Hang Around Good People

It is in seclusion that fear frequently has a chance to increase. I recognized that I had to stay within a positive environment that inspires, reinforces, and makes me strong. These individuals assisted me in dealing with my fears in non-judgmental ways.

I was able to overcome my fears because when I talked to friends, family, or mentors, I felt emboldened that I was not alone. A good support system kept me grounded and reminded me that I did not have to face fear on my own.

Related: 7 Ways to Learn More About Yourself

7. Concentrate on What You Can Manage

Fear is mostly caused by the feeling of powerlessness or inability to control events. I discovered that shifting my mindset to the things I could control helped. I would not be able to control everything that occurred in life, but I could control my actions, the way I responded, and my attitude.

Concentrating on what I could change, I ceased being overwhelmed by the things I could not change. This took away my sense of being a slave to my fears and made me feel more in control.

8. Embrace Fear as Part of Life

Probably, the most valuable thing I learned during my experience was that fear does not disappear; it is a part of human nature. I have developed skills on how to embrace fear, instead of facing the challenge of trying to do away with it. It is usually an indication that we are no longer comfortable and are expanding when we start fearing.

When I am afraid now, I do not run away—I dive into it. I have learned to accept that fear is not a bad thing I should avoid but an indication of progress.

9. Visualize Success

Fear used to consume me most of the time, and as a result, I would often envision the worst situation or failure. But I have learned to reverse this, and now I visualize success instead. I began visualizing myself making a success of it, whether in talking boldly before a company or taking a step forward resolutely.

Visualization served to recondition my brain to think positively about successful outcomes, and slowly but surely, fear became less debilitating in taking positive actions.

10. You Are On Your Way—Celebrate Your Progress

Every step toward success is a small one. I was taught to rejoice in how far I had come. Every time I overcame a fear, whether large or small, I took it as a victory.

Since I celebrated my successes, I did not give up on my journey even when fear reared its ugly head. These celebrations enabled me to increase my self-confidence and the belief that fear could not disarm me.


Conclusion

Ending the oppressive reign of fear in your life is a process that takes time, self-awareness, and determination. This journey can help you start breaking the chain that fear has on you by comprehending your fear, making small steps, disrupting negative thoughts, and accepting uncertainty.

And do not forget that fear is not the enemy. It is just an indication that you are changing and stepping outside of your comfort zone. The more you practice confronting it, the stronger and more courageous you will become. Are you ready, then, to stop being terrified of everything?

Did you find these tips helpful? Please share this post with a friend who could use some guidance on overcoming a life ruled by fear.

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How To Stop Being Afraid Of Everything

ONWE DAMIAN
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