Master Fear

Fear is not always a bad thing; it actually helps us know when we are getting close to danger as well as when we are getting close to greatness. Fear is connected to the ego and the ego wants to protect us. The left-brain rational mind, often called the ego, is that little nasty that keeps us from trying new experiences, doing new things and spending time with new people. Learning to recognize it as a friend on our journey to happiness is one more step to happiness.

When we let go of fear and its ability to control our thoughts, we can balance out our lives. Fear is just an indicator, and after a bit of calling it out, it begins to get smaller. Once we recognize it as fear and not as us it becomes much smaller and more approachable. So call out your fear. What is it and why is there?

We have done quite a bit of work up to this point to release fears, but it is important to take it one step further and tackle them for good. Remember, earlier we asked ourselves what believing in our fear cost? Usually it keeps us from what we want. Then we asked why we believe this fear. Usually something happened a long time ago, and the ego stepped in and said, “I don’t ever want that to happen again,” so it caused us to avoid the situation. Maybe you fear speaking in front of a crowd and you realize that when you were seven, in show and tell, you dropped your toy, and the entire class laughed at you. You felt embarrassed and

separated from the rest of the class. Since then you have hated getting up in front of a group. Explore your fears and try to get in touch with their source. The next, and final step, is to recognize the reality of the situation, the real truth of your fear. That fear is fake, and not real.

To master your fear is as simple as reminding yourself what is the truth. Fear shows up in many ways. Notice how it shows up and how you act. As I mentioned, fear used to paralyze me. I literally froze up and couldn’t move forward. I cried a lot because I knew what was on the other side of my fear was happiness. It wasn’t until I sat with this feeling and recognized that fear was just an indicator that I was getting close to the unknown. I was scooting outside my comfort zone. I busted through it. Real happiness exists on the other side of fear. Take off into the new you by looking at your fears, challenging them and busting through. It is always better on the other side.

Some fear is irrational but feels very real. One of the most common fears of America’s is visiting the Dentist. If you fear the dentist ask yourself if you were afraid as a child. Sometimes we have situations happen in our youth that will trouble us as adults. Once you get to the root of the problem it can heal, says Dr. Elisabeth Kierkegaarde, a dentist in Portland OR.