Fear and anxiety are some of our most powerful emotions. They are strongly associated with each other. They include the fear of rejection, the fear of failure, the fear of losing someone, and the list continues.
One of the most common examples that prove the association of fear and anxiety is stage fear or the fear of public speaking. Many of us get anxious when we find ourselves in front of a large crowd, and even after rigorous practice, we can forget parts of our speech.
When we overcome fear and anxiety, we can come up with solutions to any problem in any situation, no matter how big it is.
The key to overcoming anxiety is deep breathing. It is known to relieve stress and apprehension immediately. Whenever you feel anxious or fearful about anything:
* Stop whatever you are doing
* Focus on your breath
* Take in a long breath
* Then exhale more slowly than you inhaled
Repeating these steps a few times will send positive signals to your brain and will help you calm down.
Control Your Imagination
Your imagination can increase or decrease fear and anxiety. Fear and anxiety increase when we imagine the worst, and they lessen when we focus on positive aspects of the situation.
Let me share a simple example. You are shortlisted for an interview at your dream company, and you fear what will happen if you aren’t selected. This thought can increase your anxiety and even prevent you from performing well in the interview.
When you imagine positive things about the situation, such as your being selected and doing well in the new job, fear and anxiety decrease while confidence increases, and you may find you’re having the best interview of your life.
Although we can never stop fear and anxiety from creeping into our thoughts, we can still recognize and control them.
Another great way to overcoming fear and anxiety is the AWARE technique:
A: Accept the anxiety
W: Watch for anxiety and as soon as you feel its presence, begin a deep breathing exercise
A: Act normally. Don’t panic. When you behave as if nothing’s different, it sends out strong signals to our brain that nothing unusual is happening.
R: Rewind A, W, and A in your mind, if necessary
E: Expect great things.
Face Your Fears
We all fear one thing or another. I had a fear of heights. I even had sweaty palms looking down from the balcony of the third floor. And then, I went paragliding specifically to overcome the fear of heights. I can now look down from the 10th floor of my office without feeling that sense of panic that once gripped me.
When we face our fears, they start to fade. Fear makes things appear larger and more threatening than they are in reality.
Talk About It
Sharing your deepest fears with your friends or family members will reduce your anxiety. You never know, your friends might even share similar concerns and sharing your stories can be part of helping you both reduce your worries.
Remember, fear and anxiety are in your head. Training your mind to stay calm even in the worst situations can help you overcome fear and anxiety completely.
Helpful Resource : Life-Changing Motivational Speech