How to Manage Your Fear and Choose Empowerment

by Susie on December 19, 2024

Posted in Mental Health and Self-Care, Perspective and Growth

Fear is an inevitable part of life, if you know how to manage your fear and choose empowerment – your life experience may become just a little bit easier.

When we think of things we are afraid of—things we avoid, moments that make us feel inferior—what really matters here is perspective. Sure, sometimes there are objective factors to consider, such as qualifications and experience. If you’ve never flown a plane before and just sat down to try—that might be a little scary and you should definitely be qualified. But for those everyday moments of fear—talking to a friend after a fight, interacting with someone who’s let you down, speaking up for yourself when you’re being mistreated, or taking a risk that might have unknown consequences—ask yourself: why are you afraid?

Don’t brush this question off. It may seem obvious on the surface, but I ask again: Why are you afraid?

Take a Look at Your Fear

There is always something on the other side of what you’re afraid of. When we imagine worst-case scenarios, we often stop there like it’s the end of the world. It’s not. A useful technique for managing anxiety and fear is to ask yourself, “What happens after that?”

Let’s say you made a big mistake at work. You might fear being reprimanded or damaging your reputation. Before diving into full-blown anxiety, pause and focus on the fear itself. Let’s get curious. Ask: What am I really afraid of? And what if I wasn’t afraid?

Yes, fear is natural. It’s designed to keep us safe. But what if, instead of pushing it away or letting it run wild, we paired it with a different emotion—like curiosity or compassion? What if you could choose how to respond?

Separate Yourself from Your Emotions

As a visual learner, I like to separate myself from my emotions by giving them physical shapes in my mind. Emotions are here to help, but they can wreak havoc if left unchecked. Because they’ve always been with us, I like to think of them as old friends—well-meaning, if sometimes overzealous.

I picture them as fuzzy, colorful characters with googly eyes. Visualizing emotions this way helps me view them with love, and most importantly, see them as separate from myself.

Let’s say you’re feeling shame or fear. Try visualizing it. See it sitting next to you, not inside of you. Maybe you’re both on a little sofa. This visual distance reminds you that you are not your emotions—they are just visiting.

This emotional awareness is not about suppression or denial. It’s about coexistence. It’s about perspective. When emotions are seen as companions, not dictators, you gain emotional resilience and clarity.

You Have a Choice

Once you’ve created space between you and your emotions, you have a powerful opportunity to choose. Choose how to respond, how to think, and how to act. You can evaluate facts, regulate your nervous system, and respond thoughtfully instead of reactively.

Here’s the fun part—what do you want to do with your fear?

It may sound silly at first, but really—what would happen if you embraced your fear? Got comfortable with it? Used it as a teacher?

Fear is born of uncertainty. So why not turn the tables and give your fear even more uncertainty to contend with? Challenge it with new questions. Expand the possibilities. This method can dismantle fear’s power and remind you that multiple outcomes exist.

Turn Fear Into Fuel

Use your fear to fuel you. Channel that emotional energy into something productive. If you made a mistake—own it. Be bold. Start a project that turns your mistake into growth. Walk taller, knowing your so-called failure has taught you something real.

Approach your setbacks with grace. You are human. You are valuable before and after mistakes. What would happen if you forgave yourself and used that experience to propel yourself forward?

Empowerment is an Option

When you choose to embrace your fear instead of running from it, you unlock something powerful—self-empowerment. You remember your strengths. You recall that you’ve overcome before, and you can do it again.

With practice, this becomes a belief: I can handle this. I know how to sit with my fear, learn from it, and move forward anyway.

Resources If you’d like to learn more about handling fear and self-empowerment, check out these links:

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