I can think of a lot of things that I have personally felt when it comes to my own healing journey and mental health. I think the one connecting thread in some of my toughest experiences has been fear. It’s important to celebrate the wins and to marvel at all of the progress that has been made. It’s just as important to be able to look back on the past on learn from it.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. I don’t remember the very first time I felt fear in my life, but I can remember what it felt like feeling afraid of the monster under my bed or whatever I thought was lurking in my closet once the lights went out.

Living in Fear

Fear is is something that is based on, at times, our thoughts and imagination. When we allow ourselves to be led by fear and don’t learn how to effectively cope with those emotions, we can easily go down a slippery slope and form limiting beliefs.

In my most recent Episode 10 I go more in depth with my own experience as challenges dealing with insecurity and anxiety. You can also check out the show notes of the episode with more articles on limiting beliefs as well as a link to worksheets that you can use to begin identifying those beliefs.

It’s important to note that fear in and of itself doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. If you are in a situation that isn’t safe or if you are in a place where you don’t feel safe, fear can be an indicator for you that something is wrong. Fear can be helpful if you listen to it instead of being led by it. The great thing about recognizing your emotions and calling them out is that you can identify them in the future and respond to them appropriately.

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

Here are some simple tips for overcoming limiting beliefs from my own experience:

• Identify the things you believe about yourself, people, and the world around you.
• For every negative thought write down and adopt a new, positive one.
• Identify the emotions you’re feeling and figure out where you feel them in your body.
• Remember that this takes vulnerability and honesty. Your feelings are valid.