What does it mean to live fearlessly? Does it mean to live without any fear? Doesn’t fear play a role in keeping us safe from harm?
Yes, fear functions as a signal that danger may be near, that we need to be alert, cautious. That if we are not careful we may get hurt. But fear also functions as a constraint preventing us from reaching out beyond our self-imposed boundaries to become our best and truest self. Most of what we fear we have created ourselves — protection against an imaginary emotional trauma. Fear is False Expectations Appearing Real. Fear keeps us from being alive when there’s danger of not being accepted, approved or understood. Fear keeps us trapped inside, denying our true self from showing up in the world. Living fearlessly means building the self-confidence and courage to step outside our self-imposed boundaries to live life fully with choice and accountability.
So how do you live fearlessly? First, change your story. That is the narrative you tell yourself about who you are. “I’m lazy, I’m weak, I’m stupid, I’m a fake.” Whatever belief you have about yourself that keeps you “safe” from moving outside your comfort zone. Change your story to that unblemished, newborn self – - “I’m loving, I’m creative, I’m beautiful, I’m courageous.” Second, create a different state of mind. That is, put yourself in any feel-good emotional state — loving, accepting, respectful, inspiring, — your essential nature, your true self. And third, take action and engage in self-affirming behavior. Do things that reinforce your true self. Behaviors that will create a sense of wholeness within and allow you to contribute to yourself and the world without judgment or fear of judgment from others.
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face … you must do the thing you think you cannot do. -Eleanor Roosevelt
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