“You might think courage is the opposite of fear, but it’s not. True courage only exists in the presence of fear, not in the absence of it. Faith is the opposite of fear. Faith and fear cannot exist at the same time in the same mind. Which one you nourish will determine which grows stronger. And the stronger one will win.” – Elizabeth Meyers
Fear gets to the best of us, whether it is fear of failure, fear of success, fear of the future, fear of what will other people think of me, or even fear of fear. All of us have experienced fear and it can be a real stumbling block that holds us back from truly creating our lives.
Fear used to control my life in so many ways. Like holding me back from speaking my truth, keeping me stuck in job that didn’t fulfill me, or how about all the times I would suppress myself & my emotions to avoid confrontation or to try and make others happy, even if it was to my own detriment.
Buying into the fear kept me in a state of constant stress, spinning in anxiety & self-doubt, to the point where I often felt like a prisoner in my own mind.
I wasn’t until I got so sick and tired of letting the fear control me, that I finally swallowed a big ol’ pill of courage and started looking my fears straight in the eye, and you wouldn’t believe what happened next.
Once acknowledged, the fear that once kept me frozen & stuck in my tracks, lost its power over me.
As I started moving through my fears, one by one, every time I came out on the other side, I felt stronger, happier, more resilient & confident than I had ever felt before.
What I have learned is, fear isn’t meant to hold us back forever.
Fear is hard wired into our nervous system, essentially meant to keep us safe. However, our nervous system has no idea when fear gets activated, if the fear is a real threat, or a perceived threat made up in the figments of our mind.
So, what if fear is not meant to keep us stuck?
What if fear is a guide marker to show us where healing is required so that we can start creating a life that we actually can’t wait to wake up and live?
Watch this weeks YouTube video here:
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- Fear can only hold you back, if you let it. Here are 9 ways to help you overcome fear:
- PRACTICE BREATHING EXERCISES
Intentional breathing helps center your body and signals to the nervous system that we are in fact o-k. You can do a grounding exercise, or even just take 5 mindful, deep, long breaths at any point to calm and center yourself. It is best to start your day with this, but feel free to practice all day long.
- SEPARATE REALITY FROM PERCEPTION
Ask yourself ‘what is really going on?’ Separate the perceived ‘story’ you are telling yourself from what the actual facts are.
- IDENTIFY THE TRIGGER
What is it in a situation that triggers you? We can’t change anything until we become aware of it. Learning to identify it will support you in finding ways to overcome it.
- KNOW WHERE FEAR LIVES IN YOUR BODY
A lot of times, fear takes over physically. It affects different people different ways. Back pain, neck tension, Irritable bowl, panic attacks, migraine headaches … Identify if/how it affects your physical body and be curious about what the pain/illness/discomfort is trying to communicate to you. Listening to your body can support you in healing the thought patterns & emotional root causes of fear, and as a result, relieving the physical manifestations.
- PRACTICE GRATITUDE
Everyday, before even getting out of bed, think about 3-5 things you are thankful for. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is, gratitude helps train the brain & shift the mind into a positive light, which overtime, helps dissipate the debilitating thought patterns of fear.
- LISTEN TO YOUR INNER VOICE
Monitor your inner conversations. The voice of your inner guide is kind, encouraging & loving. The voice of fear is coming from something or someone else. Self awareness practices such as mindfulness & meditation and reprogramming the mind with techniques like Subconscious Imprinting & Access Bars, will support you in quieting the mind and better help you decipher the messages from your inner self vs. those of fear.
- REACH FOR A BETTER FEELING THOUGHT
Become aware of your thoughts that are causing you to spiral into more negative thoughts. Acknowledge the thought & ask: Is this thought contributing to my well-being? Now reach for a better feeling thought such as … I am on the right track. I am healing a little more every day. Look at how far I have come and how much has changed for me. I am so much more aware than I ever have been before. I know that once I am aware of something, then I have the power to change it. Things are changing right now. I am learning, growing & healing everyday. I am strong. I am resilient. I know this is only temporary. I can do this. Everything is going to be ok. Ah, now doesn’t that feel better. Go on, try it for yourself.
- CREATE A SAFE SPACE
When you feel safe and secure, there is no room for fear. Find somewhere safe you can retreat to when ill feelings begin – whether this is a real place such as your bedroom, with a safe person or a place in your mind such as the beach. This sense of comfort will soothe you and allow you to face your fear.
- GET SUPPORT
We are not meant to face all our fears alone. There are many qualified professionals, coaches, counselors, healers & mind/body practitioners that would love to support you on your journey to addressing your fears so you can let them go & become your very best self. Find someone you connect well with and take it one step at a time.
Please keep in mind, these are just 9 strategies, not everything works for everyone. But this is a place to start. Start implementing these techniques into your life and don’t let fear hold you back from reaching your goals and your highest potential this year!
Fear is another thing that has a negative affect on your level of determination. When you refuse to let fear get in the way of achieving the goals and success you want, you are more likely to react in a brave manner, which will improve all aspects of your life.
If you are struggling with fear and are ready to take back control over your mind & your life, I would love to support you!!
I offer a FREE Consultation to those who are ready to let go of fear & anxiety so they can live more authentically, and find freedom beyond the fear.
Click on the link to learn more https://bit.ly/Book_with_Marci
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Another way to get free is by reconnecting with your authentic self, to learn more, You can download my free guide here
Can’t wait to connect with you soon!
Much Love,
Marci xo
Marci is helping thousands of women who are ready to fill their cup, serve from the overflow, and create a life that nourishes their soul through online education, courses, and 1-1 coaching.
