8 Really Effective Ways to Squash Fear
Some are useful, and some are useless fears that you can't or shouldn't do anything about.
They sap your strength for no reason, and you should put those fears in their place. Worrying about a comet striking Earth falls in this category.
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In scuba diving, for instance, fear can cause you to breathe too fast, swim too hard, move too suddenly, fail to take note of your surroundings, or rise too quickly toward the surface.
Knowing that fear has the potential to harm you can help you set it aside. Fold up that fear, put it in a box, and promise you'll get back to it later at a less dangerous time.
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You may think it's your judgment deciding that something is dangerous and you should be afraid, but what actually happens is that fear chemicals are flooding into your brain.
Experiments have shown that fear can be induced artificially by injecting certain chemicals. Do the chemicals know what you should and shouldn't be afraid of? They don't. You do.
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The more we stick with what's familiar, the more frightened we'll be every time we encounter the unfamiliar.
Seek out unfamiliar territory--try new things, stretch yourself professionally, risk being seen as a fool.
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One good way to take back your brain from chemicals that are flooding it is to do something that engages your prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain that reasons.
Focus on problem solving, such as doing a crossword puzzle, bookkeeping, responding to business emails, or other such emotionally neutral activity.
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Naming your fears always takes some of the power out of them.
Telling someone what you're most afraid of can be a great way to cut those fears down. It's also very helpful to write them down. It will cause your brain to come up with solutions and backup plans.
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Simply stop for a few moments and focus on your breath. Filling your brain with oxygen will help it drive out fear.
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Give yourself permission to wallow in your worries for a specified time. When it is over, tell yourself that you are now finished with useless fear.
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