Are you in touch with your fears, or have you hidden them in the dark recesses of your subconscious mind. We all harbor certain fears, and it can be an uncomfortable subject to pull out into the open.

Does it bother you to talk about your fears?

Do you ever feel like the only one with those feelings?

Everyone is afraid of something

At some point in time we have all allowed our fears to get the best of us. Lately, it seems that the economic uncertainty and it’s repercussions have become a breeding ground new feelings of fear and insecurity.

Because it is such a universal concern, I was thrilled to see this subject being addressed by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits. In his latest blog post titled: Conquer the Fears Lurking in the Dark Corners of Your Mind Leo provides some helpful insights and suggestions from his own personal experience.

Here’s an excerpt where he shines some light on the problem and offers some practical advice. This quote if under the subheading:

Bring the Fear Into the Light

“Fears have power over us not because they’re so horrible — even if some of them might be kinda bad — but because we allow them to hide in the darkness and intimidate us. We are paralyzed by these fears. As a great man once said, we have nothing to fear … but fear itself.

The solution: shine some light on the fear.

The answer to the problem of darkness has always been light. Bring the fear into the daylight, and it won’t be so powerful.

Sure, the problem will still exist, and it may be a difficult problem. You’ll still have that debt to deal with — but it will simply be a matter of cutting back on some expenses so you can make bi-weekly payments on your debts, until they’re eliminated. That’s not so terrible when you think of it that way — a series of actions that needs to be taken. More on this in the next section.

So you have to start by shining some light on your fear — and do this by sitting down and thinking about the problem. Write it out. Make a list. If it’s debt, write down all your debts and get the amounts owed. If it’s health, write down exactly what your health problems are, in detail. It may seem silly to write down problems, but this is how you shine the light on them: by taking a look at them.

If you have problems even taking a look at the problem, ask yourself this question: what’s the worst thing that could happen?

Often it’s not that bad. If it’s debt, the worst is that you’d have a large debt to pay off, and it would take a long time. Or maybe that you’d have to file for bankruptcy — which isn’t as bad as you might think. I’ve had relatives that filed for bankruptcy, and — gasp — they are living normal lives right now.

If the worst-case scenario really is bad, seek help. Talk to someone about it — a friend or family member, or someone online even. This is another good way to shine some light on the problem — share it with someone else”

Don’t Let Fear Get In Your Way

Fear comes in all shapes and sizes, when left unchecked it can put a stranglehold on our lives and relationships. Clearly, leaving fear alone does not mean that it will leave you alone. Better to deal with it.

If you have found yourself experiencing increased fear and uncertainty, I want to encourage you to read the rest Leo’s insightful article.

You will also benefit from these related articles:

6 Keys to Overcome Fear and Doubt
Life Skills and The Fear Factor
Release the Fear to Get Motivated

Fear can have a paralyzing effect on your life, and it can surface when you least expect it. A life of true happiness and security is only possible if we have the courage to face our fears and overcome them. I hope this information has been helpful.