How to Overcome Fear

When I was younger, I loved to watch movies about Dracula and vampires. Even though I was afraid, I knew that if Dracula's potential victim had a crucifix, she or he would be saved. However, one particular night, I sat glued to the television screen shaking like a leaf as Dracula slowly cornered his last victim, a middle aged man. I silently screamed take out your crucifix! And right after that thought passed, the man pulled out his crucifix. I exhaled a sigh of relief. Dracula paused for a second, laughed wickedly and shrieked, "Fool!! You must have faith for that to work!!" The middle aged man bawled like a baby and the inevitable happened. The man's fear cost him his life. That movie, that scene, stayed with me for years. I didn't know why the scene was etched in my memory until years later and I started to examine my own fears. I realized that I was afraid of my own thoughts and had no faith, no self confidence and as a result my life was in shambles. Fear, a simple thought in my mind, was holding me back from living a prosperous life. At some point in our lives, we all experience fear. Fear of success, fear of dying, fear of rejection, fear of failure and the list goes on and on. Fear contaminates the mind with worry and doubt - elements of self destruction. One thing I know for sure: With faith, you can overcome fear in 5 simple steps.

Admit your Fears - Be honest and open about your fears. This is the first step towards overcoming fear.

Examine Your Fears - Think of your mind as a room in your home that is in need of serious organization. Prepare to get rid of old negative thoughts cluttering your mind. Write down your fears and examine them closely. This will help you gain an understanding of exactly what is you fear and why you need to overcome fear. Ask yourself, how long have you let these thoughts hold you back from living the life you deserve? How long will you put up with fear?

Replace Fears with Affirmations: After you've taken stock of your fears, you may have discovered that one fear lead to another. Now take those fears and replace them with an affirmation or a productive thought. For example, if you have a fear of being alone. You can re-state it as "The spirit of the creator is within me and keeps me company" or "I am living in the light of love." Creating affirmations take time and must be stated in the present. You are affirming that it is so. Focus on the affirmations to develop self confidence and destroy your list of fears to begin building faith.

Develop Faith with Daily Practice - Spend 15 -20 minutes in the morning and in the evening, reading your affirmations aloud with conviction. Find a quiet space and become one with your affirmations. Give thanks before, during and after reciting your affirmations. Visualize, see yourself overcoming your fears, begin acting the way you want to be, become the affirmation - this is faith in action. Commitment to daily practice develops self confidence and faith which will eventually to lead to you overcoming your fears.

Be Consistent - Remain dedicated to your cause - YOU!! Overcoming fear is not an overnight process. Overcoming fear takes discipline, commitment and faith. Consistency is the key. You have to work for yourself like you work for your job and just as you expect a paycheck every two weeks, expect to overcome fear, expect positive change. All it takes is a thought, a positive one. Now get to work!!!