You’ve heard of a bucket list. But have you ever drawn out a fear list?
Think of all the things you’re frightened of, and list these.
Examples include public speaking, a fear of spiders, heights, and flying.
Next, think: Which activities will put you face-to-face with your fears in a safe environment?
Order these activities as per the exposure created.
For instance, if you fear flying, you can book shorter flights, before challenging yourself to longer flights. (Don’t forget to offset the carbon footprint of your flights!)
Benefits:
- Most fears are irrational. Fear can hold you back in life, and lower your self-confidence. By putting yourself in fearful situations, you learn how to manage your fear.
- With gradual exposure, you teach your body that these situations don’t present any harm.
- With time, you’ll find your fear diminishes.
Life Hack:
- Give yourself the challenge of tackling one fear from your list every 1-6 months, depending on how much effort it requires. Remember, consistency is crucial for conquering your fears!
P.S. Conquering fears is a powerful part of personal growth – one of the 8 key areas of a balanced life. See how you’re doing across Growth, Purpose, Health, and 5 other areas with our free life balance assessment – life coaches often use this to help clients identify growth opportunities, build confidence, and create action plans for overcoming the fears that hold them back.