Embracing your fears and stepping outside your comfort zone is difficult. It can take a lot of soul-searching and deep breathing through your fears. It is not easy, but man is it worth it.
We recently took a family trip (with friends) to the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. On our agenda was white water rafting (my idea). I have always wanted to go white water rafting, but as I have gotten older and had a few babies I am literally scared of everything, especially when I don’t have any control over what is going to happen.
This was my idea and I almost backed out
We also took the chair lift up to the top of a mountain to the Gatlinburg Skybridge which is the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America. It is 1,800 feet above sea level! Now, I get a little motion sickness, I don’t like heights, and wobbly bridges over a ravine are not my idea of a good time. BUT, I walked the bridge and even went across the part in the middle of the bridge that has a glass floor. I seriously have a video on my Instagram account of me walking across it and talking myself through it. Go check it out!
I had to step waaaay outside of my comfort zone during this trip. I learned that our fears can hold us hostage and hold us in place and that isn’t a good thing. Embracing being uncomfortable is a muscle we need to start using, myself included. There are so many things that I want to achieve, see, and experience but my fears hold me back.
My mind and body try talking me out of these things. I don’t like being uncomfortable, who does? But we need to work through our fears, especially if they are unwarranted. My mind likes to tell me I am unsafe often, but that is not true. I have to figure out if my brain is tricking me or being truthful to me.
I have never liked turning in circles or going on rides. Even as a kid, I did not go on rides at the carnivals and theme parks. Even though I didn’t partake in the rides I still had a good time. On this trip, I would have been fine not going white water rafting and up the mountain to the bridge. I would have been fine, and I would have had fun. But, I had made a promise to myself and my family that I would try new things even if they are scary to me.
Your mind and body might try talking you out of being uncomfortable. I didn’t want to go on the raft. In fact, I almost had a panic attack when we were driving to the water. My body was getting lots of yucky and anxious feelings. But I told myself I would do it and I got into the raft all by myself. I had to focus on other things, I had to tell myself that it was going to be ok, and I would have fun, and I said A LOT of prayers.
Positive self-talk is a must when embracing your fears. We have to be proud of ourselves when we accomplish something that is difficult and hard for us. I was so stinking proud of myself after white water rafting. I still am. It is a memory and experience I will cherish forever.
But I almost backed out. I almost didn’t go. I almost made an excuse to get out of going. My fear and anxiety almost won. But they didn’t! I won. I stayed strong and pushed through and I embraced my fears.
Now, it would have been ok if I backed out. It wouldn’t have been the end of the world. But I know I would have let some really important people in my life down. We can only handle so much. Our bodies and minds can only take on so much. So we do need to be in tune with our bodies and we need to know our limits. But I think your limit is higher than you think it is. I know mine is.
Embracing our fears isn’t easy, but it is needed.
