Facing Your Fears: Why You Should Confront the Things That Scare You

From Fear to Freedom: How Confronting Your Fears Can Help You Live a More Fulfilling Life

Dinith Kurukulasooriya
The Pub
5 min readDec 26, 2022

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Image by Reimund Bertrams from Pixabay

We all have fears that can be paralyzing and even overwhelming. Whether it’s a fear of the unknown, of failure, or of something more tangible, it can be difficult to face those fears head-on. But what if I told you that facing your fears could be the key to overcoming them? In this blog post, we’ll discuss why confronting the things that scare you can be an important step in conquering your fears and living a healthier, more confident life.

#1) Fear is Natural

Fear is a natural emotion and an important survival mechanism. We are all hard-wired to be afraid of certain things; these fears are known as phobias, and they can range from fear of the dark to fear of heights. Fear serves an important purpose: it helps protect us from harm by motivating us to take precautionary measures or to avoid certain dangerous situations.

Even though fear is an evolutionary mechanism, it can also be a hindrance. Fear can lead to anxiety and other emotional issues that can interfere with our daily lives. It can also keep us from taking risks or trying new things that could ultimately benefit us. Understanding fear and being aware of its effects is an important step in dealing with it.

#2) Fear Can be Helpful

Fear can also serve as an incentive to motivate you to work hard and push yourself beyond your comfort zone. In this way, fear can be a great motivator to help you accomplish your goals and get things done.

Fear can also help increase your awareness and improve your focus. When you feel afraid, you become more aware of your environment and the potential dangers that may exist around you. This heightened awareness helps you make decisions that are in your best interest and alert you to any potential risks or obstacles.

#3) Fear Can be Paralyzing

When fear gets the best of us, we can become completely paralyzed by it. We can find ourselves stuck in a cycle of anxiousness and dread, unable to make any progress or move forward in our lives. We may become so overwhelmed that we are unable to think clearly or logically about how to confront the source of our fear. We may feel trapped, with no way out and no resolution in sight.

The key to overcoming this kind of paralyzing fear is to take small steps. It’s important to recognize that it’s okay to be afraid and to acknowledge our fears. Once we do this, we can start taking small steps toward facing our fears. We don’t need to jump into something that overwhelms us immediately, but instead, take it one step at a time. Taking baby steps and allowing ourselves to become comfortable with the idea of facing our fears can help us move forward in a positive direction.

Remember: there is no shame in being afraid, but it is important to recognize when fear is holding you back from living your best life. With some patience and dedication, you can overcome any fear you may be facing.

#4) Overcoming Fear is Empowering

When you confront and conquer your fears, you not only prove to yourself that you are capable of handling challenging situations, but also that you are capable of growing and evolving into a stronger and more confident person.

By facing our fears we become stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to handle difficult situations in the future. We learn how to manage our stress and anxiety levels, which can help us to remain calm and level-headed in the face of adversity. Facing our fears allows us to face other challenges in life with greater confidence, knowing that we have the skills and determination to take on whatever comes our way.

More importantly, overcoming fear can also lead to greater self-esteem and a stronger sense of self-worth. Knowing that you were able to confront your fears and come out unscathed can give you a sense of pride and accomplishment. It’s a reminder that no matter how hard life gets, you have the inner strength and power to take on anything that comes your way.

#5) Tips for Facing your Fears

Here are some of the strategies to face your fears:

a) Acknowledge your fear: Recognize that it’s okay to feel scared, and don’t try to push those feelings away. Let yourself be honest about what you’re feeling, and take time to process it.

b) Break it down: If fear seems too big or overwhelming to tackle, break it down into smaller tasks. Set small achievable goals that will help you move closer to your overall goal.

c) Talk to someone: Find a friend or family member you can talk openly and honestly about your fears. They might be able to offer advice or simply provide a listening ear.

d) Prepare: Do as much research as you can and make sure you have a plan in place for how you will face your fear. Knowing what you’re up against can make it less daunting.

e) Face it head-on: Once you’re ready, try to confront your fear directly. It may not always be easy, but pushing through and facing the thing that scares you can be incredibly empowering.

f) Celebrate: Don’t forget to give yourself credit for taking on something that seemed impossible before. Celebrate your success and look back at how far you’ve come!

Overall, fear can help build resilience and self-confidence. Whenever you face a fear head-on and overcome it, you learn more about yourself and build your strength and courage. This, in turn, increases your self-esteem and makes it easier for you to take on future challenges with more confidence.

If you gained value via today’s article, don’t forget to give a clap and follow me on medium. Be sure to check my other article Your Brand: How to Choose the Right One for You to maximize your future growth.

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Dinith Kurukulasooriya
The Pub

Transformed 1000+entrepreneurs & professionals to seek the success they deserve! CXO Coach I Business Specialist I Trainer I Success Coach I LinkedIn Expert