“There is nothing to fear but fear itself” – FDR
Fear and negativity often stand as our greatest barriers to peace and prosperity. They steal our present moments peace by expending our energy on more fearful scenarios. Then we try to anticipate and avoid any possible problems before they start, in hopes that we can protect ourselves. However, this just keeps us in fear’s clutches. This expanded fear not only further distorts our perspective and debilitates us in the moment but then can also trigger tangible, detrimental changes in our bodies, minds, and surroundings—impacts that are often more real than the fears themselves.
Moreover, fear attracts additional fearful thoughts and situations, amplifying our anxieties. For example, when we act out of fear, it often provokes negative reactions from others and leads us to behave in ways that create the negative situation we feared and tried to avoid. A self-fulfilling prophesy.
Fear is the root of all those heavy emotions, like jealousy or feeling like there’s never enough. In my work, I teach ways to tackle fear head-on. I help my clients see that fear, no matter where it comes from, is always a bit of a wrecking ball—it messes with our chances of things working out for the best. It can screw up our health, money, or relationships, even if the fear has nothing to do with those things. With my techniques, I get clients to quickly understand how fear screws things up and learn how to sidestep it, opening up new possibilities and ideas they’d totally forgotten about.
In what follows, I will attempt to give you some brief on how to relieve the effects of fear, however, keep in mind that until we understand and clear the cause of it, your progress may be slowed.
:
- Switch Your Thoughts to Anything more Positive:
Immediately switching to a happier or more productive thought is the quickest way to counter fear because making our brains jump to an entirely different type of thinking, whether happy, interested, or grateful derails anxiety. We simply cannot think two thoughts at once. - Talk to someone:
While many clients understand that thinking in a new way is the right remedy, many just can’t seem to carry it out. This is when I suggest you find someone to talk to that will hold no judgement of you and who offers kind guidance and support. This is what Mindset Consultants like me excel at, however if fear’s really messing with your life, a psychiatrist might also be needed to suggest meds to take the edge off. - Get Moving and Take Care of Yourself:
- Go for a walk, jog, or do some yoga for 20-30 minutes. It’s amazing how much moving your body can calm your mind.
- Make sure you’re getting enough sleep (aim for 7-9 hours) and eating decently. Being tired or hangry makes fear feel way bigger than it is.
- Process Your Feelings:
- Write down what’s freaking you out. Jotting down your thoughts can help you see what’s triggering you and make it less overwhelming.
- Picture something going well or imagine a calm, happy place. It’s like giving your brain a mini-vacation from fear..
- Physical Nourishment:
Oftentimes dehydration can spark anxiety. Not only can it cause it, but dehydration itself can also be confused with being anxious.
Eat something healthy. Overly processed foods and sugar can also trigger feelings of anxiety. - Stay in the Moment:
- Try the 5-4-3-2-1 trick: name 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, and 1 you taste. It pulls you back to right now.
- Distract yourself with something simple, like counting backward or listing random objects. It’s a quick way to hit pause on the fear loop.
Remember to:
- Keep at it—these tricks work better the more you practice them.
- Different fears might need different approaches. If it’s something specific, like social situations or spiders, I can tweak these ideas for you—just say the word!
- Try not to avoid what scares you. It feels good at first, but it can make the fear stick around longer.