Overcome Fear

This is a continuation of my motivational series on "FEAR". It is an established fact that, the latter is an obstacle to unlock and harness our innermost and absolute potentials. Nonetheless, in the majority of cases, most people seem to lack (or are unwilling to obtain) the vital skill sets required to master the art of overcoming fear. 

That is not to say that some fears are not rational. As a matter of fact, some key fears were deliberately ingrained within the  human fabric from birth, so as to make us more aware and conscious of the dangers around us. However, as we approach adulthood, some fears (or the so called "phobias") begin to surface due to misconceptions gained from external influences. As the great and knowledgeable Dr Martin Luther King Jr. once famously orated that,

"Normal fear protects us, abnormal fear motivates us to want to improve our individual and collective welfare, abnormal fear poisons and distorts our inner lives. Our problem is not to be rid of fear, but to harness and master it."

I am pretty sure that we can all extract some sense from the above statement by Dr King Jr. Therefore, it is simple, learn to harness and master your fear, and you will surely notice a positive change in your life. 

Now, here are 7 important nuggets to hold on to in your quest to overcoming and mastering your fears.

• Audacity: This is perhaps the most important prerequisites of all. Many people would agree that, to be able to achieve any feet in life, one has to possess an unflinching audacity. Without which, most will never be able to stand up to their deep-seated fears. 

• Self-determination: Like in many areas of life, be it education or otherwise, self-determination is crucial. Do you remember how you felt, when you first embarked on you driving journey? I am sure you were resolute in your determination to master it, and eventually, become a professional. This same analogy can be applied when trying to overcome fear. For determination fuels our desires, which in-turn greatly increases one's chances of attaining success. 

• Self-motivation: The motivation to achieve a particular goal in life is a paramount catalyst, needed to make that first move and crucially, to keep the ball rolling. For a car to successfully move from one point to another, the driver first need to start the ignition and then apply the correct gear, and most important, accelerate. The acceleration serves to motivate the car to attain mobility. Therefore, try to be motivated or do things that will bring about this.

• Courage: In order to overcome any insecurities (including, "fear") you may have, courage is necessary. Most people with known difficulties often aren't willing to confront them head-on, because, they simply cannot garner enough courage to do so. Martin Luther King Jr stated that, "We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear."

• Practise: As the saying goes, "practise makes perfect." This is so true, in the sense that in order to master your fears, you need to adopt the culture of constant practise or whenever the opportunity arises. The bottom line is that, no one can master anything without persistent practising.

• Self-believe: This is a powerful attribute to have, if you don't already. If you do not believe in yourself, no one else will. In order to climb a mountain, a climber has to first believe that he or she has the capability to surmount it. Moreover, this is also applicable to the area of fear, in that, the latter sow a negative belief within us, in order to deny us the opportunity to attempt some things in life. Therefore, begin to believe in your capacity to overcome your worst fears.

• Support: I cannot stress this enough, it is imperative to foster a sustainable support network or environment, whilst trying to overcome fear. We all need someone to encourage us and this could be friend, family member or others. Remember, a supportive environment provides a fertile ground for positivity and success to flourish.

Although, there are other recommendations published in many literatures for overcoming various fears, you should always remember that, the secret to achieving this is within in each and every one of us. But, it is our individual responsibility to harness our inner powers in this regard. So, what's holding you back?