How Do You Conquer Your Fears?

Daily writing prompt

Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

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If you’ve ever searched for the answer to the question “How do you conquer your fears,” you know there is no perfect answer. Everyone has a different level of courage, and a different level of ability to conquer what intimidates them.

If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know that I conquered a common fear – public speaking. It wasn’t achieved overnight. It took a lot of effort and practice (and I had no choice – speak in front of an audience or don’t have a job).

I would say the best advice for conquering your fears is to face them head on, but from a safe distance. (So, if you have a fear of heights, I’m not suggesting that you jump down from a high rise.) Start with something small. For example, in an actual experiment, a boy named Peter got over his fear of white rabbits through repeated exposure, first from a distance, and eventually desensitizing him to his fear of the rabbits.

Another example of facing your fears is my experience performing on stage. I was part of a music group. I forgot my lines and froze in the middle of a song. Not my best moment, and not a perfect performance, but the point is, I got on stage in front of several people I knew at school. If you try something once, and you survive, it is easier to do it again. (And you set the bar a bit lower: first time, get on stage, make a mistake and look silly; next time, get on stage, do a better job.)

To conquer your fears, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and don’t be afraid to be less than perfect. Also, don’t be afraid of embarrassing yourself (such as forgetting your lines). Every little step counts as progress. 

Thanks for reading!