How To Overcome Irrational Fears And Anxieties
Some fears and anxieties are very real and can be devastating. Incurable disease, violent abuse, a dangerous job… there is much to concern us in life, and those fears and anxieties can overwhelm us?
But most fears and anxieties in life are NOT life-threatening – yet they can FEEL threatening. When those fears and anxieties are IRRATIONAL, bad things still can happen. Fear of public speaking, fear of an uncertain future, fear of social media embarrassment, fear of political repercussions, fear of losing social status… they can FEEL terrible, and affect how we view our life.
An ageless life is a life not confined or defined by age, but also not confined by irrational fears and anxieties that can stunt our growth or distract us on our path to a full and meaningful life.
The human brain is always in search of balance and well-being.
Sometimes that well-being is energized by ambition and aspiration. Sometimes it is in search of quiet peace, contentment or fulfillment. Whatever path we are on in our life, the distorted, exaggerated emotions of irrational fear and anxiety can take over if not dealt with proactively.
In the right circumstances, short-term fear and anxiety can be a good thing… keeping us alert, focused, senses sharpened and brainpower on call… ready to perform at our highest level or ready to escape danger.
So what can we do to overcome fear and anxiety that is irrational or unfounded? What steps can we take to deal with these emotions in a way that frees us from the restraints and numbing paralysis that threaten pursuit of an ageless life?
Here are the 7 “brain laws” to overcome irrational fears and anxiety in our life.
The more we think about and internalize these “laws”… the more we accept the truth of these laws… the more we build on these foundational laws to craft our personal strategy to deal with our own irrational fears and anxieties… the better equipped we will be on our path to a full life.
1. Most of our fears are learned and are irrational.
Most fears are generalizations of those innate fears learned interacting with our modern environment. They are irrational because the physical and emotional reactions they trigger are not caused by life-or-death threats to our existence. We will not likely die speaking in front of a group. We must learn to recognize that most of our fears and anxieties are really NOT life-threatening, and, therefore, they can be dealt with proactively.
2. Learned fears are not permanent. They can be un-learned.
If irrational fears are learned, the brain can learn how to separate the triggers from the responses and learn to respond differently to the triggers. That’s the secret. When our brain can recognize those triggers as false, we can learn to respond in a more productive way.
3. The stronger our self-image, the weaker irrational fears become.
4. Aspiration and motivation are the brain’s fuel in building self-image.
An enlightened recognition and strengthening of our sense of personal uniqueness and worth fortifies our resistance to irrational fears. We must work on enhancing our image of ourselves to strengthen it every day.
The brain is hard-wired to support personal growth. It is our interactions with the complexities of modern life that create barriers of doubt, anxiety, confusion, etc. Those emotions slow, stop or even reverse the continuous aspiration and motivation that drive personal growth. That’s why continuous aspiration is such a critical component in all success programs.
5. Learning to overcome irrational fears is a step-by-step process.
Re-learning is not a quick-fix event or decision. It is a defined, step-by-step process of repetitive positive conditioning driven by successful completion of tasks that builds new pathways in the brain, and prepares us to better handle irrational fear-inducing triggers.
6. We must break down complex tasks into a series of simpler tasks.
The more frequently we experience the satisfaction of completing tasks successfully, the quicker we can learn to overcome irrational fears. The brain wants and rewards efficient closure of tasks, not “multi-tasking.” So any time a task looks daunting, break it down to a sequence of smaller tasks, attack and complete each one and discover that virtually anything is achievable.
7. The brain is our ally– if we follow its “Work Rules.”
The brain is not only able to change (at any age), its innate wisdom welcomes new learning that will bring body and mind into balance – our natural state.
But we must understand and follow the brain’s Work Rules – how it prefers to learn. Everyone is different so we must identify our personal learning preferences and follow those Rules to be most effective.
The challenge for each of us is to surrender to those “Rules” and follow our innate wisdom. It will lead us to the balance and well-being we are each capable of achieving.
Your comment is welcomed. Join our EverAgeless community.