"Square up with what scares you. Look it in the face and let it know who has the stronger will"
We've all been in a similar situation to the one my dad found himself in in the picture above. A feeling of complete vulnerability as your fear of heights outweighs the comfort of your current situation. What if a wind gust sweeps your feet up and over your head and sends you plummeting to your death? What if this bridge collapses and we all die? Sure, these are some scary what ifs. But are they really likely to happen? And more importantly, are they worth your energy of thought and attention that otherwise could be spent immersing yourself in the beauty all around you? I think not.
Fear is a strong tool.
It should be used for your own safety as well as to help you determine your own comfort zone. Know what scares you. Know how far you're willing to lean into that fear. Then lean on in. Press on your fear. This is how you'll expand your own comfort zone and that's what growth as an individual is all about. Whether we're talking about initiating a conversation with your crush or jumping into some whitewater, both seem very scary when you do it for the first time. Do it anyway! Embrace that fear and use it as a resource to swell out your chest with pride as you plunge into the unknown! Get your hands dirty, feel uncomfortable, get shaky legs. All of this means that you are expanding yourself. What terrified you one year ago may just be an average day for you now if you continue to lean into your fears.
"Fear is an illusion that you create. The longer you're willing to stare into the face of fear the less power fear itself will have over you"
Run towards it.
This means committing fully. If you face on your fears with one foot still tucked well within your comfort zone you're not really doing it. Dive in heard first. Commit yourself to allow your fears to engulf you and stay cool, calm and collected while you look around at the horizon outside of your comfort zone. This might be a whole new world for you. Stay there. Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. Fear is an illusion that you create, the longer you're willing to stare into the face of fear the less power fear itself will have over you. If you're doing this then you're already winning the battle against fear. Start small. Scared of the ocean? Go to the beach. Look at it. Study it. Does your fear stem from reality or hypothetical situations you've created in your head? Find a friend who's comfortable in the ocean and ask them to go out with you. Seeing others stay calm in situations that scare you does wonders for overcoming your own fears.
Know Your Limits.
Maintaining a healthy relationship with fear is an important aspect of every individuals life. Balance is key. Use your own fear to push your boundaries, yet sometimes a healthy dose of fear can be appropriately used to set your own boundaries. Some fear is based off the unknown. Some fear, however is based on your lack of ability or other factors. If class 5 rapids scare you because the highest you've ever ran before is class 3 then that's an appropriate fear. It doesn't mean don't run class 5, it just means get there using the appropriate steps. No doubt, when you run your first class 5 rapid you'll be scared, but make sure you go into it with the appropriate mindset, skills and abilities and that fear may just keep your attention and adrenaline level up to where it needs to be to successfully execute the run. Baby steps. That's how fear is overcome.
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