Choose Your Fears Carefully
Fear is an instinctive part of who we are. Some people perceive it as a figment of our imagination, whereas some swear it’s a physical invisible demon they always have to contend with. For me, I simply refer to it as an overwhelming emotion that can’t simply be ignored or tackled.
Be it as it may, we encounter fear in many areas of our lives. The fear of failing a course in school, of being rejected by our peers, getting dumped by our significant other, the fear of heights, fear of death, you name it.
Fear is equally enriching too. In the sense that there are many parts of life in which it motivates you and other parts, it leads to dragging you down — which are all-encompassing of the experiences essential to living.
But what happens when we let the fears we have to overthrow us?
What do we do when fear from different areas of life starts to rear its heads and interfere with our life?
One method which has worked for me and I suspect would likely work for anyone in such a situation is to choose their fear carefully.
By this, I mean, focusing on that major crippling fear that abounds. The kind that could leave you paralyzed (in all strata) for a long time.
This also means choosing to face it, deal with it or overcome it. It usually starts with making up your mind, telling yourself the truth that this is your major fear and admitting to yourself that you’d like to prepare for and overcome it.
One of the most effective ways of doing so, according to Iyanla Vanzant, a multifaceted, inspirational, and spiritual teacher, in her book Acts of Faith, is to convert your fear into faith.
The Faith that you shall overcome it. The Faith that whatever you’re afraid of will be conquerable and enrich you when you come out on the other side.
When you prepare to face your fears and actually do so, then it becomes less fearful. You’ll find that the further you move into the process of dealing with or overcoming them, the less intimidating, more numbing, and exhilarating you’ll feel at the same time.
But to accomplish this, you have to take it one step at a time. One fear at a time. Don’t get too bugged down with a lot to face at any one time. You’re the fearful one, fear isn’t having you.
You’re in control of your emotions and feelings and we’ve been equipped as humans to encounter fear and equally overcome it.
We also have the “powers” to diminish the fear that doesn’t lead us anywhere.
The question is which and what would it be?
Would you prioritize your smallest fears over the major ones?
Would you continue to slack in making up your mind in dealing with the ones that need to be dealt with? Or not?
