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7 Benefits Of Fear And 7 Easy Ways To Conquer It

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7 Benefits And 7 Easy Ways To Conquer Fear

woman don't worry sweater covering one eye


What is fear?

Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat. (Oxford Languages)

Why is fear so important? 

A little dose of fear could be healthy and helpful. 

Imagine if you're not afraid of falling down a cliff. You wouldn't be careful. You'll end up hurting yourself and others with you. 

Though fear is considered a negative emotion, good things come with it. Fear alerts us of potential danger. It makes us more cautious. It gives us a chance to protect ourselves from peril.

Fear only becomes harmful or unhealthy when you let it rule your life and paralyze you from moving forward.

How can you use fear to your advantage?

Use fear as motivation instead of a deterrent. We all have fears. But we can use it for our benefit. Here are 7 benefits of fear and 7 easy ways to conquer it.


7 Benefits Of Fear And 7 Easy Ways To Conquer It


What's your deepest fear?

When I was still single, I feared the what-ifs of the future.

I wasn't afraid of growing old alone. Because I enjoy my own company. I have made small investments to secure my future.

Today, I'm happily married. And sometimes I wonder what I was so afraid of back then.

My fears are different now. It changes as we grow, although some things remain.

I'm still afraid of these things:

  • What if I'm not enough?
  • What if I can't do it and fail my client or my own business?
  • What if something terrible happened to my loved ones? I know it's inevitable, but I still fear losing them.
  • I fear not having enough time to do the things I want.
  • I fear that this p and em ic will continue for a long time, and our economy will plummet further.
The fear of uncertainty.

As humans, fear is embedded in our DNA. It is a primitive human emotion. Fear is essential for survival. 

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7 Benefits of Fear

  1. Fear can make you wise. It encourages critical thinking.
  2. Fear helps you focus or keeps you on your toes.
  3. Fear can give you the feeling of anticipation, which could be exhilarating.
  4. Fear makes you attentive. When you fear for your health, you become more conscious about your lifestyle. You consider what you put in and on your body.
  5. Fear makes you cautious. When you fear for your and others' safety, you become attentive.
  6. Fear drives you to change. 
  7. Fear can push you to be bold. 
Ironic, right? 

But it's only when we are fearful we can be brave. It's only when we are afraid we can make bold moves.

If I wasn't afraid when I was single, I wouldn't have been careful in choosing my future partner. Instead, I would have just settled for anyone.

When you fear losing something precious, you take care of it, hold it tighter, and even fight for it.

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7 Easy Ways to Conquer fear

  1. Identify what's making you afraid.
  2. Confront the feeling. Understand why you are afraid of something.
  3. Embrace fear.
  4. Laugh.
  5. Plan.
  6. Pray.
  7. Do it afraid. (Joyce Meyer)

1. Identify what's making you afraid.

What is making you afraid?

Fear of commitment? 

Fear of speaking in front of people?

Fear of the unknown?

Fear of the "result"?

They say fear is just an illusion. It's an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real. 

Identify the fear. Is it real? Or are you just overthinking it?


2. Confront the feeling.

Why are you afraid of ___? 

Only when you've identified your fear can you confront and understand why you feel that way.

Some people give up on dating and marriage because they've been hurt too many times in the past. 

Fear usually involves a focus on the past.


3. Embrace fear.

We're all afraid of something. Some are irrational, and some are rational reactions to a real threat.

How do you embrace fear?

Use fear, and don't let it use you.

Embracing fear means using it as a tool. A small amount of fear is a good thing. Use it as a guide or instruction. 


4. Laugh at it.

Seriously, humor is the best remedy.

Have you seen Harry Potter, where they had to fight a boggart?

A boggart is a shapeshifter that usually lurks in dark spaces. It has no definite form, taking the shape of what is most feared by the person who encounters it. (Wikibooks)

This means it plays with the person's weakness. 

The spell to defeat the boggart is Riddikulus. 

It will then turn from your menacing fear into something, well...ridiculous. But what finishes it off? Laughter.

Boggart Harry Potter laughter gif
Giphy

In real life, you can tell your fear that it's ridiculous and then laugh at it.

Learn to laugh at yourself.


5. Plan.

Before the emotion gets the better of you, take a walk. Or shower. Shower thoughts are the best, yes?

Play some feel-good movies.

Try to recall all the hard times you went through and how you miraculously managed to still be alive and well.

And then plan your next move.

Are you afraid of confronting your boss or colleague about an issue at work that's been bothering you? That's good because you don't just walk right up to them. There may be consequences.

So take some time to plan what you need to do next.

Learn from your past experiences or from other people.


6. Pray.

Go back to the fact that the phrase "Fear not" has been mentioned 365 times in the Bible.

It's like God knows that we will always be afraid of something. So, he reminds us to not fear every day of every year (365 days in one year).

Fear not. God is still in control.

You have 24/7 access to the Lord of all. Pray.

And remember, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." (1 John 4:18)


7. Do it afraid.

When you fear not being heard or being oppressed, speak. Even when your voice is shaking.

Your fear will always be there, rearing its ugly head unless you learn to conquer it.

You don't have to wait for fear to disappear (it may never happen) before you act. 

Have you stopped and considered that maybe you're only afraid of how powerful, brilliant, and fabulous you can be.

If it's holding you back from becoming the best version of yourself, do it now, even when you're trembling with fear.


Your turn

  • What is your greatest fear?
  • How is it beneficial to you? 
  • How do you conquer it?

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frighten us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? …And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
-Marianne Williamson



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Lux is a social entrepreneur, and investor with a passion for romance novels and an uncanny knack for turning words into marketing magic at Internet Marketing Ad. She believes all things are possible through Christ.

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