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Gaining awareness that your fear is related to unfamiliarity of situation may go a long way in allowing you to face it squarely and do thing you're putting off. Here are some additional suggestions to help move you through fear:
TAKE A DEEP BREATH
Breathe slowly and become aware of your breathing. As you focus on your breathing, you will notice that you automatically begin breathing slower and more deeply. This allows you to get to that 'centered' space, space where you can view situation objectively, where you know what you are capable of, and where you can again see potential in what you want to do. Focusing on your breathing very often brings you from fear to nervousness to excitement about event in a matter of moments.
FOCUS ON THE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED
If others are involved, shift focus from you to them. We sometimes worry so much about what other person is thinking about us that we miss opportunity to identify what they need and to help them achieve it. A dear friend shared a story of her early days in real estate and how her fear of what clients were thinking jeopardized her ability to sell. It wasn't until she started focusing on clients, and how she could help them through this stressful time (and anyone who's ever searched for a new home knows how stressful it can be!) that she was able to turn business around and enjoy success. Tuning in to other people puts a whole new slant on things, allowing our fears to recede long enough for us to figure out that there's nothing to be scared of!
BLOW UP YOUR FEAR
This is an effective exercise that you can do in just a few short minutes.
Close your eyes and take a few slow breaths. Visualize yourself in your mind's eye in a calm, peaceful place. Allow yourself to think of situation you're avoiding until you can firmly feel fear around it. 'See' yourself identifying place inside you where fear is (usually stomach) and put both hands in and pull it out. Hold fear in your hands and look at it for a moment. Then notice that there is a brown cardboard box, just large enough to hold fear, on ground in front of you. Place fear in box and close it. Keep your eyes on box and see it get larger. As you stand and watch box (breathing slowly all time), see it grow and grow. See it become as large as you, as large as room, as large as house, as large as town, as large as country, as large as world --- until it grows so large it just explodes like a balloon. Once it's gone, take a moment to notice how you feel without fear. Take a few more deep breaths and open your eyes. [If fear has really taken hold, you may need to do this a few times. But each time you do it, you'll notice that box explodes at a smaller and smaller size.]
(c) Louise Morganti Kaelin. Louise is a Life Success Coach who partners with individuals who are READY (to live their best life), WILLING (to explore all options) and ABLE (to accept total support). Find many free resources to assist you in living the life of your dreams at http://www.touchpointcoaching.com For her free newsletter of insightful, practical suggestions for creating your best life, email mailto:on-536@ezezine.com