When the American writer Robert Bly wrote about fear he said, "I know a lot of men who are healthier at age fifty than they have ever been before, because a lot of their fear is gone.”
Whether you are man or woman, fear can wreak havoc not only in your mind, but with your physical health as well. In fact, if you let it, fear will permeate every part of your being. Don’t let it. Stop fear before it stops you.
In its purest form, fear is a necessary part of our primitive, instinctual behavior. It was intended to save you from being eaten by a saber tooth tiger. It was not intended to stop you from becoming a doctor, lawyer or musician.
Fear isn’t supposed to prevent you from speaking out about what you believe needs to be said. It’s not supposed to prevent you from making the next sales call or from calling a distant family member to let them know that you love them.
Living in fear keeps your body in perpetual fight or flight mode. It wears you down like the motor of a car that’s been parked idling at a high RPM.
How do you stop the fear from stopping you? Understanding and perseverance.
Understanding FearFear manifests as rational and irrational fears. Rational fears protect you from harm. They stop you from stepping in front of a moving car or from kicking a sleeping tiger. While rational fears should not be allowed to rule your life, they are ultimately healthy fears as they serve the funciton of preserving your life.
Irrational fears are those which can't be explained logically. They often stem from traumatic events, particularly those experienced during your youth. These fears stop you from doing everyday things that could make your life better. Perhaps they prevent you from speaking in front of a group or from getting to know that special someone. Irrational fears might even prevent you from using public restrooms, walking around outside or even talking to people.
Having an abnormal fear of heights, germs, bugs or other things is what happens when rational fears become irrational.
Persevere to Overcome Your Fears
One way to overcome your fears is to acknowledged the pain that these fears cause. The next step is to get to the root cause of your insecurity. Therapy can be a tremendous value in managing irrational fears, though sometimes all it takes is sharing your feelings with a close friend and learning to manage the feelings created by the feelings of fear.
It’s okay to let fear keep you safe from danger. Just don’t let it keep you from fulfilling your life’s passion. Don’t wait until you’re 50 to get healthy. Eliminate the fear today and live life to its fullest.
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