It’s a new year and a new decade – a clean slate and an opportunity to grow and better yourself. It might just be the best time to start working toward a new you; to start thinking about what you would like to change or accomplish.
Don’t Let Fear Stand in Your Way
So, what is standing in your way? Many people would answer: Fear! Fear of change, fear of failure, even sometimes fear of success. But you can’t let fear stand in your way. Because if you do, fear will be deciding your future for you. ‘Never let fear decide your future.’ – Unknown
Face Your Fears Head On
Everyone is afraid of something. And different people have varying levels of fear in different situations. But the difference between those that are able to accomplish their goals, versus those who are not, is the willingness and drive to face those fears and not back down.
Change Can Be Scary, But Regret Can Be Worse
To many people, just the thought of change can be a very scary. As a population, we tend to avoid change because the status quo is familiar – it’s the devil we know. And we can often let our imaginations run wild when facing the unknown. We tend to imagine the worst, which drives us back towards the status quo.
But, in the majority of situations the worst-case scenario never comes true. More often than not, change leads to a better outcome – an improvement on the status quo. In the majority of cases, those that face their fears head on are really glad they did. Their biggest regret after the fact – that they didn’t do it sooner. And for those who never stepped up to face their fears, they usually regret that they didn’t try.
Don’t Face Your Fears Alone
It’s difficult to face your fears, and even more difficult to keep going once you face a setback or stumble along the way. But you can combat those setbacks by bringing in reinforcements to help you push past the hurdles you will face along the way.
Ask for help from friends and family that can serve as a peer support group. And consider getting help from a mental health counselor. Behavioral therapy sessions can teach you tricks and give you the tools and support to help you manage your fears. Therapy can also help you gradually change the way you think, making it easier to face your fears in the future.
Elemental Mental Health (EMH) offers behavioral therapy services to residents of Georgia, Florida and Texas. Via EMH’s telemental health program, seeking support is as easy as sitting down in front of your computer screen. To learn more, contact Elemental Mental Health.