Key Is A Positive Mindset
Researchers have shown that a positive mindset goes a long way in helping us to overcome our fears. In the case of those with a fear of flying, it helps if these people are looking forward to what greets them at the end of the journey. This is not entirely rational – the likelihood of you falling prey to an accident on a flight does not decrease if you are going on a vacation rather than say a stressful business trip – but your perception of that risk changes. If you are going on vacation, your mind is set to positive and all is generally well with the world. In 2012 researchers from Ohio State University found that those with a positive attitude were more likely to conquer their phobia of public speaking following exposure therapy than those with a more negative mindset. The same could be said for other fears in life. It stands to reason that those who generally hold a positive view of the world around them have less fear of the potential “what ifs”, and are better able to rationalize them in the event of a negative outcome.
Tips for overcoming fear
Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt said it best when she said: “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” So what can you do if you are worried about taking that job, going into that new relationship or having that all important operation which could improve your hearing?
Analyze the nature of your fear: is your fear based on something rational, or is it based simply on “what ifs”? Fear of failure certainly falls under the “what ifs”! Don’t let these rule your life.
Prioritize the potential benefits: there will always be cons to every decision. But weigh these up properly against the potential benefits of a decision and how your life might change for the better.
Learn to live with a certain level of uncertainty in your life: you will never eliminate all risk in life, so stop acting as if you can! Making a big decision is simply choosing one of many paths through the uncertainty.
Stop thinking “doing nothing” is an option: action gives us confidence, forces us to learn and keeps us moving forward in life. Actively decide to be courageous.
Tags: Be In Action
