Fear is Afraid

We’ve all heard it.
I’ve said it.
“Face your fears!” *

I appreciate the sentiment behind that advice, though I’m not sure how effective it is.

Don’t confront your fears. (Not yet, at least; that’s scary.)

Instead, take a fear and just look at it. Name it. Talk about it. (Put it in air quotes if you have to, so it feels safer.)

Here’s the thing about fear: It’s afraid of being named. The fastest way to deflate it is to put words on it. Facing it will come, but first, begin by using the power of words to weaken it.

Talk about spiders. Or mice. Or lightning.
Write about your fear of failure.
Tell us about your insecurity or your fear of missing your life purpose.
Put language to it. It sharpens your focus and normalizes your experience. (Ambiguity and isolation feed the fear.)

By the time you face the fear head on, it’s atrophied.

*I’m not a therapist. This is not professional advice, and I don’t mean to minimize the complexity of fear. What I share here is from personal experience.