Courage over comfort

You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot choose both.

Brené Brown

One thing the last few years have taught me, is that the things that scare me the most, are teh very things that I really need to do.

Right when I feel the fear start to kick in, I start paying attention. I listen to the fear, and I let it be known. I sit and give it space and acknowledge it for what it is – my subconscious trying to protect myself. Protect myself from being hurt like I’ve been hurt before. To keep myself safe from harm, and away from anyone/thing that could hurt me.

Listening to the fear, doesn’t mean letting it tell me what to do. While it’s a protection device, it isn’t there to encourage growth. Courage and comfort do not go hand in hand. We can have one or the other, but not both.

It is easy to stay in our comfort zone, safe and protected from anything that could hurt us. But…. our comfort zone doesn’t give us the space to grow, to change, to try new things, to meet new people, to take steps onto a whole new path.

So when fear comes calling, I listen, then stand up and do the very thing fear is telling me not to do. I take a deep breath, and jump.

If fear is talking to you, here’s five things you can do to stop it taking over;

* Listen

You don’t have to shut fear off entirley, listen to exactly what it is telling you. If you listen carefully, it will tell you where you need to grow, where your weaknesses lie, what you are most afraid of.

* Think

What is the worst that could happen if you listen to your fear? What is the worst that could happen if you don’t? Do you want a life that is safe and small, or one that is brave and wide and adventurous?

* Control it

There are always aspects of our fear that we can control. If you are afraid of speaking in front of other people, start small, speak in front of one other person, then two, then three. If you are afraid of being hurt by falling in love again, then go slowly, don’t give someone else all of your power, let them prove you can trust them.

* Speak about it

Talking about your fear will dimiish it’s power over you. If we keep it to ourselves, our heads can let it grow out of control. Talk it over with someone that you trust, and see it fade.

* Stop worrying

The problem with fear, is it worms it’s way into our minds if we let it. We’ll find ourselves worrying over what we are afraid of, and that just gives it more power. The key is to stop worrying about waht could go wrong, to just focus on the here and now, and let courage guide our way.