Lifestyle

6 Crucial Lessons to Help You Live Fearlessly and Free

by Robert Anthony

We're all strong - or at least we think we are. But every now and then, we all need some guidance. Seeking guidance isn't necessarily a sign of weakness, but a sign of humility and a willingness to adapt to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Tiny Buddha has worked with Terri Cole who has a PhD in Fear and a masters in clinical social work.  Terri Cole shows us the six, most crucial lessons to help us all live fearlessly and free. Check out the six steps below and get in gear for the new year.

1. FEAR IS A FEELING, NOT A FACT.

This is great news and comes as a surprise to most clients. Mortal fear is the only informed fear. If your life is in danger, the fight or flight response is adaptive and necessary. However, most of the time when your flight or fight response is activated, you are not in mortal danger.

You can have an initial fear response, recognize you are not in mortal danger, and calm your mind to create clarity. Remember fear is just an illusion. Always keep in mind the law of attraction. What you want, you will get in some form.

2. YOUR MAFIA MIND IS A BULLY.

Your fear mind, or “Mafia Mind” as I call it, operates the same as the real mafia. Instead of extorting money, your Mafia Mind extorts joy and potential happiness from your life by threatening you with what might happen. A lot of things might happen and they might not, so harness the power of your intention to create what you want to happen. As well as make it happen.

3. BE HERE NOW.

Present moment awareness is essential to stop fearful thoughts from becoming your reality and dictating your decisions. Never mind what was and don't be a fortuneteller. This present moment is unique—there has never been and will never be another. So let go of the, “well this is what will happen because that's what always happens.” Enjoy it and take it all in. Allow it to be one of the best memories of life you have.

4. MEDITATION.

A dedicated daily practice of stillness and silence strengthens your “be here now” muscle. Living more in this present moment will decrease fear generated “future tripping” into what hasn't happened and “past tripping” into what no longer exists.

5. EXERCISE GRATITUDE IN MOTION.

A John Hopkins University study indicated volunteering as little as two hours per week increased feelings of happiness and decreased feelings of depression in volunteers. I made volunteering a mandatory experiment for clients struggling with fear and anxiety and found positive results.

Fearful obsessing is very isolating. Sharing your gifts with others is the fastest way to get out of your head and into living.

6. GET A CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP.

Seek help from a licensed professional. Years of my own psychotherapy before and after my year of fear created a safe space for my healing. One thing I know for sure is you have the power to free yourself from the mental prison that fear creates. Anything worth having is worth working for, and you deserve to live fearless and free.