Fear is a powerful emotion that is inherently designed to save your life. The problem is, however, that when we feel fear there is rarely an actual threat, and yet we have the same response to fear as our distant ancestors- to avoid the thing we fear even though we are in no real danger.
Most often when we experience fear what we fear is change, yet our most enriching and satisfying life happens outside our comfort zone, when we are challenged to change our patterns of behavior and enjoy new experiences! Life is better when we face our fears!
“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got.” ~Henry Ford
The Rule of Fear
So tell me, friends, are you willing to get what you’ve always got, or are you ready to face your fear?
I decided to change my relationship with fear and I did it in one simple step. Whenever I was afraid or uncomfortable in a situation, I did exactly the opposite of what my fear urged me to do. I knew that feeling fearful was an indication that an experience was outside my comfort zone, and getting uncomfortable is usually a good thing!
It became my “rule of fear”- if I don’t want to do it, I do it.
Of course this doesn’t mean that every fear I face is a positive experience, but it’s always a learning experience, and let me tell you what I’ve learned.
What the Rule of Fear taught me
I am competent
When I try a new experience, I don’t suck nearly as much as I feared I might. Many of my skills are transferable to new situations.
I am confident
I’m pretty good at handling myself with confidence and intelligence in almost any situation. (Thank you, Toastmasters, for helping me developing my confidence!)
That was fun
Often the thing I fear turns out to be something that’s actually quite fun once I give myself the opportunity to try it. Go figure!
I can do anything!
The more I apply the rule of fear, the less fearful I feel. I can do anything! Okay, maybe not anything, but just about anything. I’m at least willing to try.
These days it’s actually exciting to face my fears. I’ve had enough experience doing the exact thing that scares me that I no longer try to avoid it, I view facing my fear as a great adventure! And isn’t life a great adventure?
