Four Steps to Overcoming Fear and Stress

Fear and stress are two very REAL things in our lives. In fact, they practically run our lives. Stress has a bad rap: when the word 'stress' is mentioned, we usually think of the negative emotional impact that stress puts us under-- missing items, relationship issues, work issues, finances -- and anything inbetween! What we don't think about is positive stresses in our lives.

Moving into a new environment, new relationship, starting a new career, deadlines, even coaches who push us past our comfort zone... Positive stress pushes our limits on what we think of as 'normal'.

Stress starts in the mind, and is played out in the body. When you place 10 people in a room and expose them to the same stimuli, they all react differently. We are all hard-wired differently and come form different backgrounds.

Our past is the filter through which we decide if something is stressful or not. For example, if you were bit by a large spider when you were seven years-old, you may have a huge fear of spiders. However, if you never had bad encounters with spiders and found them interesting as a child, you may not have any fear of them whatsoever. With the help of a professional, by erasing past memories you can overcome your moments of stress.


Make It Easy On Your Mind

If you consciously control your body, your mind will be more settled thus, you can control the stress better. When you control the stress, you are more aware of your actions and reactions.

1. Step One: Breathe deep. When we are faced with a stressful situation, the first thing we shouldn't do is react. We react with emotion. And it's the emotion that often hijacks our thoughts. For example, there is no possible way you can think rationally when you're deathly afraid of spiders and there is one dangling in front of your face. In that moment, all you think about is how much distance you can put between your face and the eight legged creature!

When you breathe deep, your thoughts slow down... when you slow down your thoughts, you have space and time to decide how to react in a calmer manner.

2. Step Two: Smile. When you're feeling happy you tend to smile. The opposite is also true... the brain is designed in such a way that when you smile, you feel a sense of joy. It is programmed into your DNA. When you smile, you don't feel stress. If your smile is authentic, the feeling spreads to your thoughts. It is impossible to feel unhappy and stressed when you're smiling. When you are stressed next time give the 'smile test' a try! You many need to fake it for a few minutes but your mind will follow your actions.

3. Step Three: Exercise. We are all aware of the importance of exercising for health, wellness and longevity. But exercise is extremely important for stress reduction as well. When you move your body, your heart rate goes up and that means more blood flow to the mind and body... which means you decrease your stress. It is extremely difficult to feel stressed after you lift weights and do an intense cardio routine. I'd have to say that it's almost impossible!

4. Step Four: Mindset. The key to managing stress is managing your mindset. Is your glass half empty or half full? Everybody has challenges in their lives but it's people with a positive mindset that do not let challenge overtake them. Positive thinking does eliminate a lot of fears and stress automatically. If you find it hard to be positive, read a book, listen to an inspirational CD, and hang out with people who have a different, more positive mindset from yourself. Coaches, mentors and positive friends will make the difference.

Humans are emotional beings. Fear and stress -- the two biggest emotions in our lives -- are two very REAL issues we must deal with on a daily basis. They are there for us to navigate through our day. These four steps make the process a little easier on your mind.