Throughout history, people have made sense of their experiences through mythology. Because of their magical creature, gods and goddesses, we view myths as make-believe stories. However, some myths are not make-believe. Some stories are based upon reality. One of those true myths is fear.

When someone says that fear is not real, it frustrates me because our human experiences tell us a different story. Our fear invokes real physiological changes throughout our bodies; like profuse sweat, an elevated heart rate, raised hair on our skin, as well as fear responses from our brains to fight, run away, or freeze.

This physiological distress usually stems from disappointments and failure from our past.

As a result, we tell ourselves that those same failures and disappointment will repeat themselves in the future. Nonetheless, we can change this story with a few simple steps.

Be Present

If failure from our past distorts our view of the future, then being grounded in the present moment can give us the right perspective. For myself, I am most present when I connect with my body. One practice that grounds me in the present moment is mindfully breathing. When we breathe deeply, oxygen flows to our brain enabling us to think more clearly and relax. Another practice that grounds me in this present moment is physical activity in nature. When we are active while outdoors, our fears diminish. It is hard to stand next to a tree or on the top of a mountain and think of our fears with the same magnitude.

Acknowledge Fear

When we tell ourselves that our fears are not real, we practice avoidance. To overcome our struggles, we must acknowledge that obstacles are inhibiting us from our progress. One way to acknowledge fear is to name it. Once we name of our fear then we can ask ourselves, why are we afraid? Your answer may surprise you.

Worse Case Scenario

When you are afraid, ask yourself “What is the absolute worst-case scenario?” You probably think that you know the scenario, but think about something worse than that. And then think of something even worse until you have found the worst-case scenario. (Involve some morbidities) While doing this exercise, you will probably feel silly because the worst possible scenario is highly unlikely to happen. But that’s the point! We need to play the tape of all of the outcomes to gain the right perspective.

Move Towards It

In life, change does not happen overnight. For us to overcome fear we need baby steps. What is the smallest step to overcoming fear? Once we move closer towards the monster that frightens us, we will see that it is not as scary as we thought. And every time we repeat these actions, we build resilience. Remember this, we were not always afraid of taking risks. We rehearsed a story long enough until we believed it. So let’s tell a different story by embrace new experiences and pursuing growth.