“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” ~Leo Buscaglia

How many times have you not gone somewhere because you were afraid of what people would think of you? Or you didn’t walk down a certain street because you thought it was unsafe? Or even, avoided doctor’s appointments because you don’t want to know if your health is at risk? What are you afraid of? What holds you back from living life to the fullest? What insecurities overshadow the amazing person you really are? If you look at it one way, we live in a pretty scary world. War, disease, violence, self-loathing. We fear for our lives, the lives of loved ones, and the turbulent world as we know it. Fear pops up in our lives in literally every form, in every situation.

Life can seem pretty challenging when viewing it through fear colored glasses. While fear is a natural emotion, it is important to not allow what we are afraid of to paralyze our lives.

In any situation, our brain has the ability to throw back to fear. We’ve grown so accustomed in our society to have our guards up constantly, because (in our eyes) it’s an evil world and we are bound to get hurt. Little do we realize, that as individuals, and as a society, this way of thinking not only holds us back, but spreads an attitude of distrust and unease. And really, who wants to live in a world like that?

Let’s find the root of this problem, pull it out of the ground, and stunt its growth, starting today. Fear often comes from an over-active mind. To dig even deeper, fear comes when we leave the present moment. It’s when we allow our minds to go in every single direction but forward, and it’s when we access the craziest of crazy thoughts. The big thing to remember about worry is, it simply doesn’t get us anywhere. Fear doesn’t wish away a disease, or keep your loved ones safe. It simply consumes your time and precious thoughts, thoughts that could be going towards something more productive and more loving.

So, the next time you start to feel a fear based thought festering in your mind, remember to:

–  Cut the thought off as soon as possible, do not let your brain go down that path. Veering away from your normal fearful thoughts just once, has the power to create a new path in your brain for more positive thinking.

–  If you’re let your brain start down the path, change course. Teach yourself to change gears, choose something to occupy your mind instead. Hello, sacred mantra. Gandhi even says, “The mantra becomes one’s staff of life and carries one through every ordeal. Each repetition has a new meaning, carrying you nearer and nearer to God.”

–  Make a list of things that you’re afraid of for one week. At the end of the week look at that list and see if any of those things came into fruition. Maybe even, the things that we’re most afraid of, will end up helping or making us stronger in the end.

-Finally, the easiest way to cut the fear? Unplug! Instead of turning on your electronic device of choice every five minutes, turn if off, look away. The media is one of the biggest sources of fear in our lives. Instead of reading the news or checking into social media, pick up an inspirational book or close your eyes and focus on your breath.

How have you dealt with your fears in the past? Has it been successful? How would your life look if you lived a life without fear? Let us know!

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