How to Cope with Fear

"What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear; that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are to learn about fear, not how to escape it." - Jiddu Krishnamurti

You know who you are, what you want and what's important to you. You are ready to make decisions and to put them into action. Thinking about something and wanting it is the first step towards change, but it's not enough. What stops you from actually doing it? Fear is the only obstacle to overcome. Fear is the product of negative thinking, of believing that you can't make it, that you're not good enough or that you don't deserve it. It boils down to a lack of trust in yourself, the belief that you can't handle certain situations and therefore they appear frightening to you. 

Fear is an illusion, a trick of the mind. If you trust you can cope with whatever the Universe dishes out to you, your apprehension will diminish, even though it may never disappear completely. Every time you embark on a new journey, you will feel a bit nervous, and this is normal. You don't need to wait to be free of fear to begin moving in the direction of your dream. 

In my book "The Magic of Willpower," I explain that fear can be excitement in disguise. Eagerness, passion and enthusiasm are often mistaken for apprehension because they are unsettling. You're leaving your comfort zone to achieve something new, something you've never done before. You're treading uncharted waters and that alone can give you butterflies. But rather than trying to run away from the fear, just acknowledge it and embrace it. Don't let it stop you from doing what you want. The secret is to go ahead in spite of  it, and this is the true meaning of courage.

What propels you into action? It's hope: your vision of a positive outcome. Hope is the most powerful motivator. But in order to hope for something, you need to have a picture of it in your mind. Work on this picture and polish it up, go back to it every time you feel your determination weaken. "Imagination is more important than knowledge" said Einstein. So get your imagination going. Paint the desired end result in your mind and take the plunge.

I know you can do it!

Bella

Photo by Bella Tindale