How You Can Be One Of The Most Fearful People On Earth And Still Be One Of The Most Brave

Feel your fear and walk through it with courage!

By Kathryn Brown Ramsperger — Written on Aug 05, 2021

Photo: Zotev Valery / Shutterstock

silhouette of woman with the courage to face her fear

Fear and courage may seem like antonyms, but if you recognize the connection between them, you'll be on your way to a successful and liberating future.

People self-sabotage or get stuck in a rut for one major reason: fear.

I help my clients connect with that fear, conscious or unconscious, and heal it or bypass it completely.

But, did you know that despite fear and courage being opposites, you can be one of the most fearful people on earth and still be one of the bravest?

Here's the secret: You can't get through life without experiencing some kind of fear, and facing your fear is the only way to get through it.

Courage does not mean an absence of fear. In fact, getting through fear is an act of bravery. But first, you've got to know you're afraid, and the best clues to fear are physical.

Find, observe, and feel fear in your body.

Realize that your mind and body are connected, that your conscious and unconscious are connected, and you have to care for both. To care for them, you need to notice them.

"You can't be worried without having a physical corresponding reaction. Every thought, feeling, or emotion you have is reflected in your body. Everything in your body is connected to your brain. So when you have an emotional experience, it's happening on the physical level, too," says Whole Body Revolution founder Sukie Baxter.

Notice where your body is most tight and contracted — you'll find where your worry resides.

When your body is tense, it's sending messages to your brain that you're not safe. Then, your brain sends back messages to your body that it's not safe. It's a vicious cycle!

Not to mention the possible burnout that can develop. Physical symptoms show that you're experiencing fear.

To remove the fear that's in overdrive from your body, try this simple exercise to regulate your nervous system.

Feel your feet on the floor fully, or better yet, on the ground outside while barefoot. Take three deep full breaths all the way to your abs and back up.

Then, let your gaze rest softly on your surroundings, and name a few things around you, especially the things you love. Notice. Focus.

Then, shift your head from side to side, up and down. Open and close your eyes a couple of times. Really feel yourself in your body.

Note the difference in the tension in your body. Are your shoulders still tight? Is your back as stiff?

Next, connect with fear in your mind.

Now that you've located your fear, you've calmed yourself down. Your body is probably feeling better. Next, figure out why you're afraid.

Get up and out of your everyday surroundings and away from your screens!

Connecting with your mind isn't about filling it with other people's ideas, thoughts, or opinions. It's about connecting with your own.

Sit in stillness, quiet for five minutes or so, feeling your inhales and exhales, letting your eyes go soft and unfocused to your surroundings.

Then, allow your thoughts to enter this inner sanctum. It's OK if they're already there. Just notice them and make a list of them.

Do you see any similarities, patterns, or habitual thoughts? If you're aware of these thoughts, that's the first step toward not letting them take over and scare you.

Then, close your eyes and sense into the peskiest thought, the one that is triggering you the most, in this very moment.

If that thought were a thing, what would it be? If it were a person, what would it say? What if it were a sound? What would you hear? If it were a place, what would its name be?

Stay in this visualization for as long as you feel safe, peaceful, and relaxed.

Then, write down your observations in a journal. Notice if you feel any more relaxed than before you began this exercise.

As author Ann Lamott said, "I am one of the most fearful people on earth, and one of the bravest. (All truth is a paradox.)"

Research and observe.

When you experience fear, look at your notes. Find any symbols or consistent signals that may point you toward the reasons for your fear.

For example, you may think you have stage fright, but that fear may stem from being teased as a child.

Your fear of asking for a raise may stem from your family almost going bankrupt. Or it may connect with something even less obvious, like grief for a beloved friend or pet.

If you sit with the reasons, digging deep, you'll notice that your mind eases and your body lets go of more tightness.

Once you've identified your fear and figured out why you feel afraid, you probably want to "fix" it. But the only way is through it.

That's what fear and courage have in common. You have to practice being afraid to practice bravery.

You can use exercises to feel better, but fear is part of being human. And so is courage.

Engage with your fear every day.

Next time you feel triggered, nervous about doing something out of your comfort zone, uncomfortable about saying something, or squirmy at being who you really are, observe your fear in your body and your mind.

And keep a record to notice any patterns or habits or triggers.

Once you're feeling more comfortable within your mind and body, it's time to do something that scares you.

Do the thing you're most fearful of.