3 Ways to Conquer Your Fears in 2017

Everyone faces that moment when you realize there is no turning back. There isn’t an easy way up or an easy way down and you must make the difficult decision of how to proceed. This holiday, literally paralyzed on the edge of a mountain, I broke down and sobbed. Panicked by the height and difficult terrain I’d never faced before, I felt overwhelmed in a way that was, in that moment, all consuming. Although I’m comfortable with a certain amount of risk in my life, this moment was a good reminder that sometimes you need to push yourself harder than you think you can to “make it up the mountain.”

We all know the expression, “the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward,” but it’s the decisions you make in tough moments that can lead you to sweet success. While neither path may have been a simple solution in my case, had I turned around and gone back down I would have never felt the sense of accomplishment and awe when I did make it up the mountain.

Fear is normal. It’s a basic human response and a healthy amount of it is probably good for our survival; however, we can’t let it hold us back. Here are a few tips on how to conquer your fears to achieve those 2017 goals:

1. Close Your Eyes and Visualize What You Want to Accomplish

It may sound silly but close your eyes, take a deep breath and picture yourself doing the thing you want or need to do. I find that imagining the scenario can help with making a daunting task seem easier to overcome.

2. Allow Yourself a Moment to Feel Overwhelmed

It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. A task simply may seem too hard or too scary and you need that space to shake those fears out. A good cry, yell or just a few minutes of breathing slowly can be used as a cleansing moment. Let it all out and then get ready to move on.

3. Focus on the Journey, Not the Destination

Once you’ve mentally prepared to tackle your challenge, learning to appreciate the process is critical to your success. Even if the journey is hard, find the joy in the moments of reprieve and learn to appreciate the challenging ones. Sweet victory results in recognizing the fact you’ve faced your fears and achieved your mission. The journey is about stepping forward into growth.

In the words of Nelson Mandela, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Credit: Entrepreneur Middle East

URL: http://www.inc.com/leura-fine/3-ways-to-conquer-your-fears.html?cid=+sf01003&sr_share=linkedin

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