Is it Possible to Live without Fear?

Fear can come in many different forms. However, deep down, what we're all really afraid of is suffering. The issue is when fear becomes dysfunctional. Read more here!

You’ve probably wished it were possible to live without fear. However, fear is a basic human emotion that keeps you safe from danger. Unfortunately, it’s also an emotion that likes to take control. This makes it hard sometimes to tell whether something is a real danger or just feels like one.

It’s in those times that fear loses its adaptive function. One of the most common fears people have is the fear of the unknown. The reason it’s so universal is that the uncertainty often keeps you from taking a certain path.

There are many fears that you might not even be aware of, such as fear of failure, of being vulnerable, of rejection, of “what people will say”. Then, there are the bigger fears such as the fear of being sick, of dying, of losing a loved one, of aging, of being alone… Basically, we’re all afraid of suffering. But sometimes your fears keep you from shining.

Identifying the Fears that Slow You Down

Think about all the things you’re afraid of and try to figure out what form they take. The thoughts, emotions, and physical effects they produce are a combination most people don’t think about. Even though they might seem separate, they feed off of each other, for better or for worse.

In the same way that the emotion of fear affects your thoughts and body, you can reverse that process and use your thoughts and body to relieve your fear. Fear has a life of its own. It’s quick, short, breathless, and constant. Thus, changing your actual breathing can help you calm down.

The Story behind Your Fear

You have to confront your fears. The best way to do that is to figure out what exactly is causing your fear in any particular moment. One good strategy for that is to write down your fear and its possible causes. The act of writing can help you bring some order to the mental chaos that comes with feeling afraid.

In some cases, a very specific fear is just a sign that you need better tools and resources. If you keep it from paralyzing you and try to concentrate and analyze it, you’ll be able to find a lot of valuable information about yourself. It’ll also give you some clues on what steps to take.

Some Tips on How to Live without Fear

It’s good to learn to trust yourself, to feel like you have all the necessary resources to solve any potential situation that comes up. You can’t control everything, so learning how to accept that is very helpful.

Just think about how you’ve gone through difficult things in the past and overcame them. Now, you’re stronger than you were before. But if you think there’s still more room for you to grow in this sense, give it a shot.

Stop being afraid of failure. Failure is really just a nasty synonym for an unsuccessful try, and it can actually give you the tools you need for future success. Life isn’t just about winning all the time, it’s also about gaining experience, encountering new things, and learning to overcome setbacks and hardships.

Your Fear Won’t Go Away if You Cling to Safety

If you decide to cling to safety, that makes you a prisoner of your fear. You’re just limiting your own potential. If your fear of failing, looking dumb, or being hurt stops you from taking a leap, you’re letting fear and anxiety have all the control of your life.

Most of us have equal amounts of both of those negative emotions. Negative experiences become etched into your brain, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t had any good experiences! Forgetting about the good side of things is just another way you keep yourself from being able to live without fear.

We suggest you read about other people’s lives. Doing that can help you see more clearly how success almost always comes after failure and unsuccessful tries. Have faith that you can learn from your mistakes. Give yourself permission to mess up. This way, you’ll learn to live without fear.