Courage: Overcome Your Fears
Facing your fears with courage can open doors and change your life. Join BeWellBuzz as we delve in how to confront what scares you with openness.
You’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. ~ Christopher Robin
There are two kinds of fear, one is a real external fear of impending danger that causes us to take protective action and the other is a fear generated in our mind that can paralyse us emotionally and physically.
I used to get scared all the time. I was scared of being judged, making mistakes, looking bad, failing, disappointing others and more. When I was younger I thought something really was wrong with me because I would get so nervous -– in sports (because I was clumsy), in school (because I wasn’t as smart as the other kids), in social settings (because my teeth were so crooked), in drama class (because I couldn’t remember my lines), in relationships (because my clothes were all homemade) and more.
We can be afraid to know and express our true feelings because being bold may bring criticism; going for what we want in life may bring ridicule; trying something new may bring failure; success may bring a great deal of fear in us because we may not be able to keep it up. What if I lose my friends if I reach the top? What if I try and look stupid? What if people laugh at me? What if I am disappointed because success isn’t all I thought it would be and I have put in so much more effort? These fears are common to everyone. It’s just part of being human. Everyone will experience their own version of the same basic fears I had and will be exposed if they choose to grow on the journey called life.
Most people find it difficult to acknowledge or even identify their fears because they are embarrassed, uncomfortable, or they erroneously think we “shouldn’t” have fears as an adult. We are told as a child to ‘keep a stiff upper lip’ or ‘don’t be silly’ when we are afraid. We are told ‘there is nothing to be afraid of’. But we are not mature enough to work our way through that concept. So as an adult, we may think there is something “wrong” with us for still feeling the childish ‘scared’ feeling. However, I have found that when you really want something in life, you have to conquer those fears as part of your character development. Things that are really meaningful to us in life usually don’t happen without facing and overcoming some fear. Usually the bigger the goal is the more fear we will overcome along the way.
Since we have agreed we all have differing degrees of fear, the question isn’t whether we will experience fear in our lives; but rather ‘How can I move through my fears as quickly and effectively as possible with integrity?’ ‘How can I prevent fear from stopping me from becoming who I am supposed to be?’ How can I go for it 100 per cent and get what I absolutely want in life? Fear can and does impede us in life -– from being true to ourselves, speaking our beliefs, being transparent with people and going for what we really want. But, when we keep in mind, with heartfelt empathy, that there’s nothing immoral within us for being scared, that I really am okay; we become willing to acknowledge our fears with openness and courage. We figuratively can transform our fears into a platform that catapults our development and brings personal happiness, joy and fulfilment in life.
