“We do not fear the unknown. We fear what we think we know about the unknown.” ~ Teal Swan.
Fear of losing someone we love, fear of failing, fear of starting something new, fear of embarrassment, fear of expressing our true selves. Fear is our biggest obstacle in life that holds us back from our dreams, desires, potential, love and truth.
We need to understand what fear is, to learn how to overcome it. In the Oxford Dictionary, fear is defined as ‘an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm’ or ‘a feeling of anxiety concerning the outcome of something’.
We can create fears so big that the mere thought of them makes us sick to our stomachs!
Fear is a natural emotion, but where does it come from?
“Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity. Do not misunderstand me, danger is very real, but fear is a choice.” ~ After Earth ~
I love this quote! I feel it explains what fear is, more than any dictionary definition can. The good news is that since our minds are the root source of fears, we have the power to overcome them.
Acknowledging your fears is one thing but challenging them is another!
We want to start by simply putting them down on paper. Write down your fear and all the reasons you are afraid. Take those reasons and ‘what ifs’ and flip them into a positive rather than a negative:
What could go right?
Still have that sinking feeling and racing heart?
Breathe! Notice these physical effects in your body and replace them with excitement. The thing is, there isn’t a lot of difference physiologically between fear and excitement, but from the way you think about it. The difference is how your mind interprets it:
Are you looking forward to something – ‘butterflies in our stomach’ or are you dreading something – ‘pit in our stomach’.
Both are our mind’s assumption for future events that are unknown.
One simple question to ask yourself when all the fearful ‘what ifs’ are being thrown around your mind:
Do you know it to be true?
Our imagination can run wild with accusations and assumptions. These are what we need to start questioning. Soon after you question all the ‘what if’s’, you are then left with the unknown.
“Courage is risking the known for the unknown, the familiar for the unfamiliar, the comfortable for the uncomfortable arduous pilgrimage to some unknown destination. One never knows whether one will be able to make it or not. It is gambling, but only the gamblers know what life is”. ~ Osho ~
By having courage and putting aside your fears, you can then put goals into action. You can do what is authentic and what you have longed for.
Embrace and learn to love the unknown. The unknown is full of opportunities and surprises.
Turn fear into excitement… the possibilities are beyond your imagination!