Understanding Your Fears

Though we often think about fear in a negative context, the truth of the matter is that fear can be a very positive thing. It tells us when we are in physical danger, it helps us figure out what things make us  uncomfortable and it reminds us of hurts we have experienced in the past. However, in many cases, fear can also be a cage that prevents us from doing what we want and releasing the Superhero inside. When you look around and realize that your life is hemmed in by fear, you need to overcome it.  One of the first steps that you can take in overcoming your fears is
to define them. Clearly defining your fears can help you get a grasp on what fears are on automatic pilot in your head.

Identify Your Fears

In some cases, identifying your fears is easy. You may be afraid of heights or of flying or something else that is easy to perceive. This is especially tricky for budding Superheroes wanting to get off the ground. However, when fear sneaks up on you and leaves you with a panic reaction that you don’t understand, it can be confusing. Start really investigating the times that you are afraid. What do they have in common? Is there a situation, an emotion or even a person that triggers it? Is it fear of failing, fear of loss or fear of confrontation?

Before you can start defining your fear for yourself, you need to identify it. For some people, this is very difficult, especially if the fear is rooted very deeply. There can be many layers to a fear and union reflection you can see that several different fearful reactions actually steam from one main fear.

Write It Down

If you are having trouble defining your fears, start writing. Writing is a fantastic tool because it allows you to organize your thoughts and to learn more about what you need or what your triggers may be. Start writing about your fearful thoughts and how they affect you, both mentally and physically. Write

about the last experience you felt you never want to face again. Chances are you will have fear surface when the same circumstances come up again. Fear is something that is very hard to sort out in your head. After all, fear can make you hyper alert, but then it can also confuse you, especially if you don’t know where it is coming from. Set a timer for five minutes and just free-write until you hear the beep. This is something that can help you put the fears that are holding you back on paper before you have time for your defense mechanisms to kick in. Fear does not like to be exposed, it likes to lurk in dark places like a true villain.

Talk With Someone Else

If you have other Superheroes around you that you trust, you’ll find that there are a number of reasons to get them involved in your search for your fears. In many cases, the people closest to us know us better than we know ourselves, and as a result, they can help pose ideas regarding what we are afraid of. Ask them if they have ever known you to be affected by fear, and ask them what they think you were afraid of.  They might be able to offer insight that surprises you. Outside people can offer a fresh perspective on what maybe the cause of our fears.

Understand That Fears Affect People Differently

The interesting thing about fear that although it is a universal experience, it is not caused by the same thing from person to person. For example, if two people are looking at a snake, one might get very  nervous and upset, while the other person has no fear at all! This goes further than just simple phobias,

however.

Two people have experienced the same thing, and though one person has a strong negative reaction, the other person moves on as they were before. Our minds are complex machines that process millions of bits of information, including fears.  Stop comparing your fears to others, and learn what a particular fear, means to you. A fear can be as personal as a fingerprint.

Find Out Why You Are Afraid

People can be afraid of the same thing but in two very different ways. For example, consider two people who are afraid of getting on an airplane. One person might be afraid that the plane will crash, while another person might be afraid of being hijacked or kidnapped. One person’s fear, therefore, is based on the anxiety of dying, and the other person fears a loss of control. A loss of control fear is a prominent  one for entrepreneurs on many levels, As you can see from this example, it is not useful to say that both people are afraid of flying, though this is how the fear manifests. Take a moment to think about why you have the fear that you do and what the impulse behind it might be.  If you are invested in taking control of your fears, then take a moment to think about how you can define them. You cannot conquer your fears if you don’t know what they are!