Four Things You’d Stop Doing If You Had The Courage to Face Your Fears
Stop limiting who you are
When you are scared of confronting your fears, they dominate your choices, beliefs and actions.
You avoid taking risks, undermine your worth and build emotional walls. And over time it harms every aspect of your life.
If you want to have the courage to face your fears, stop doing these things.
Stop Self-Sabotaging Your Well-Being and Relationships
Most people do not realise when they are harming themselves.
They engage in negative self-talk, procrastinate work, and avoid forming close relationships. And it makes them more anxious, stressed and lonely.
Often the impact doesn’t follow soon, and it becomes more difficult to understand if you are hurting your own interest.
So, ask yourself:
“Do my choices align with the life I want?”
If “no”, reflect on what changes can you start making.
Because the thing is.
As much as you’d like to believe you can’t create a good life, the truth is:
You absolutely can!
Think about your aspirations and goals. Make a plan. And take the smallest step (it starts getting easier from here).
If you ever feel like giving up, get back to why you started. Connecting to your purpose makes you more consistent and disciplined.
While you embrace change, be kind to yourself. Create a space for your insecurities to exist without judgment and bullying.
Stop Prioritising Others’ Needs Over Yours
I have a cousin who was seen as the “perfect child” growing up.
She never argued, always obeyed, and excused others’ bad behaviour. Now in her 30s, she recently told me her biggest regret is never considering her own needs.
Many of you may understand how heavy unresolved regrets can weigh on you. Living your entire life revolving around other people’s expectations is painful.
But, you know what?
It’s not too late for my cousin. And neither is it too late for you.
Recognise that you deserve to take space. Your needs are important and it is not selfish to prioritise them. In trying to be everyone’s superhero, do not forget to take care of yourself.
As they say:
Fill your own cup first and allow the world to benefit from the overflow.
Courage comes when you let go of the expectation for everybody to like you. It is comforting to get external validation. But, it doesn’t mean you should measure your self-worth against it.
Create Boundaries to avoid overextending yourself:
Avoid assuming responsibility for other adults.
Say ‘no‘ to things you don’t want to do.
Communicate your needs.
Listen to your body and take breaks.
Do not compromise your values.
Stop Avoiding Accountability for Your Actions
Robert Downey Jr. is seen as a role model for those struggling with addiction.
And rightly so!
After years of substance abuse, he realized he needed to change, and took responsibility for his problems. He didn’t let hitting rock bottom define him; instead, he redefined his journey.
I mention him because many people settle for their struggles instead of overcoming them. They use their inhibitions as an excuse to remain stuck in unwanted situations. They think, no matter what they do, nothing will ever change.
That’s simply not true!
The moment you take accountability for your actions, your life starts to transform.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never stepped outside your comfort zone or don’t know what’s next. When you stop complaining and focus on solutions, everything becomes easier.
Take back your power. Understand the impact of your choices on your reality. Do not get blinded by complaints, move ahead with agency, faith and an intent to learn.
Stop Living With Anxiety About the Past or Future
Oh, I’ve been working on this for quite a while.
My most unhealthy habit used to be dwelling on past events, mistakes I made, and replaying situations. When I wasn't doing that, I worried about similar things happening in the future.
It made me miserable.
My anxiety would go up, and I would struggle to sleep or concentrate on work.
It affected my daily life, health, and relationships so much that one day I decided, “Enough! I don't want to live like this anymore.”
"I don't want to spend my days fearing what has happened or what might happen.”
That was the start of a big shift.
When you worry about past events, you’re reliving that experience. Overthinking makes your mind and body feel the impact all over again. Often, even more intensely.
Plus, when you stress over the future, you feel the pain of something which has not even occurred yet.
In moments like these, take a step back. Affirm: “I do not want to go through this twice. I will deal with what comes my way.”
Most of the worst-case scenarios you imagine never even happen. So, instead of overanalysing your life, build resilience. Take the lessons and move ahead with self-awareness and the capacity to handle uncertainties.
Your insecurities thrive on fear.
It blurs the line between facts and assumptions and forces you to form self-limiting beliefs. So, show up with courage.
Be scared but go after what you want anyway. And watch how it uplifts your confidence and self-esteem.
Tell me which of these things resonate the most with you in the comments.
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