We all fear something in life. Some of our fears are more pronounced than others. But one thing fear does is hinders our potential.

Thich Nhat Hanh stated, “Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.”

Depending on who you talk to you, you’ll realize that there are many ways for us, as individuals, to control our fears. Certain methods are more practical than others but if the right amount of dedication and persistence is put into the process, we’ll see it pay off in the future. A whole new world may open up to you when it’s all said and done. Here are some methods I’ve personally used over the years to become less fearful in various aspects of life.

1. Realize that we all have fears.

Some people act all high and mighty in front of you, but deep down there is something out there in the world that just causes them to jump out of their skin or to feel uncomfortable. These individuals are nervous when it comes to sharing, but that is alright. Privacy is a right we all deserve. But by acknowledging our fears and knowing others may be facing the same problems it sometimes makes it easier to try to overcome.

2. Engage with your fear.

When we begin to realize what our fears are we can begin finding the triggers that set them off. For example, fear of public speaking is something a majority of people have in the world, but until we realize that this fear, and many others are holding us back from our true potential, such as building relationships, engaging in conversations, and sharing our ideas we will have a hard time reaching our ceiling. By engaging with fear and understanding why they arise, we can take the necessary steps of going to classes, reading self-help books, and practicing to overcome such nuances.

3. Find your spiritual self.

In today’s society talking about anything that is religious or spiritual is quite unorthodox. It’s a sad case, but, nonetheless, becoming more spiritual allows for us to pray and find our spiritual selves which helps out tremendously in some cases. It allows us to realize that there will be another day and that a more divine power is at work, watching over us and protecting us from the more severe issues in life. Becoming more spiritual can let you realize that one negative day will not prevent you from excelling the next day.

4. Learn mediation techniques.

There are various apps and free resources to learn how to mediate and sooth the body and mind. A particular application used by many on their Android and, possibly, Apple phones is Stop, Breathe, and Think. YouTube also has various free videos that teach mediation which helps with overcoming fear, easing stress and anxiety.

5. Practice, practice, and practice some more even after you’ve mastered your fear.

Nothing in life will come to you unless you set some time to prepare for it. Practice with friends, family, and strangers. Use common sense with certain fears which were not focused on today, especially heights. Do not go near a ledge or clean tall buildings unless you have supervision and are sure of your abilities to handle potential mistakes/injury.

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