Fear Innoculation

The only two inborn fears human beings are born with are fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. That's it.

False Evidence Appearing Real is a perfect encapsulation of fear.

99.9% of the things we fear is conditioned and irrational. Unless you're running from a tiger or a burning building, chances are your fear falls into this category.

But that doesn't make it any less real. Intellectually we know it's only conditioned responses but we still constantly struggle with these false alarms. So what can we do?

Fear inoculation exercises. By regularly engaging in things we fear (but know we shouldn't) we can help build up a resistance to these pesky fears.

Afraid to ask for the raise you deserve? Research the most effective asking techniques, craft your unique pitch, and go in there with a confident mien. Worse case scenario you're exactly where you started. No harm, no foul. (If your boss would fire you for asking for an overdue raise, then your boss is a total dick and you should quit asap.)

Afraid to talk to the gender you're attracted to? Start small. Ask an innocuous question, or to go grab a cup of coffee. Sure, you'll be awkward at first. But, as with any skill, the more reps you put in, the better you'll get. Worse case scenario he or she says no and you're exactly where you started.

It helps to weigh the risk and reward of taking action. Often times, because the downside is nil, the risk/reward is so asymmetrical it's a no-brainer.

Life happens at the edge of our comfort zones. The only way to expand our consciousness is by constantly pushing and testing the limits of our comfort zones.

Stop letting fear smother your life experiences.

Regularly practicing things that make you uncomfortable will help you see fear for what it really is: an absurd self-made prison built upon false evidence.