How to use F.E.A.R. to ease your anxiety and feel better.
The body's natural reaction to fear is fight, flight or freeze. Makes sense evolutionarily. But in the modern world, these primal defenses may not serve us.
It's time to redefine fear. In this post, I talk about how to turn your worries into actions using the acronym F.E.A.R. (
Face
Everything
And
Rise)
Full disclosure, I love inspirational quotes. So I have to confess, the F.E.A.R. acronym is from Zig Zigler, who has many inspirational quotes.
The original quote is,
"FEAR has two meanings: Forget Everything And Run, or Face Everything And Rise. The choice is yours."
Watch the Video: Turn Your Worries into Actions
The 4 Domains People Worry About Most
I have identified four domains of life that I think most people worry about: health, money, relationships, and the future. In each of these areas, I’ll talk about how to stop worrying and take some action.
Let's start with health...
1. Health
Instead of worrying incessantly about your health, take charge, and take some action. Get healthier. Get enough sleep, get more exercise, take vitamins, and improve your diet.
If you're worried about a loved one's health, talk with them and help them take positive actions, however small.
2. Money
Instead of envisioning worst-case scenarios with your finances, take action. Lean into your fears. Start a budget. Call your broker. Sell something on eBay.
If you're unemployed, update your resume and apply to as many jobs as you can. Ask friends and former bosses if they have temporary jobs you can do.
If you're employed, get a second job for a while. Why not?
3. Relationships
Take the time to improve your relationships, in your business
and personal life.
Arguing with your partner? See a therapist. Can’t afford it? Try
Open Path Collective , a great resource if you’re on a budget.
Now is also the time to reach out to friends and family members. Tell them they can count on you. Start a communal fund, in case someone goes broke.
4. The Future
Worried about the long term? Be proactive and take action. Plan for the worst now, so you don't have to worry later.
Look into the possibility of selling your house, or moving into a cheaper
apartment. Plant a garden. Keep bees. Start a neighborhood
committee.
Plan it out now instead of worrying about it. You'll feel
better. Best case, you'll make new friends and learn new skills. Worse case, a
couple of people will laugh at you.
A Good Philosophy
I hope this post is helpful. Of course as a disclaimer, I'm not telling you what you should do. My point here is to take some sort of positive action to alleviate your anxiety.
Face Everything and Rise is a good philosophy at any time. Wishing everyone the best in physical, financial, and mental health.
Feeling overwhelmed? Check out my post
3 Ways to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed