Tag: OvercomeFear

The Lost Sun

Posted on by andrew

Cristina Crescenzo (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

I remember one day when I was a little, I walked into the front entrance of my school as the sun was shining behind me, casting my shadow along the carpet. There was a teacher standing by the door, smiling at me as she said, “Cristina, the sun follows you wherever you go.” As a naïve kid, I believed them, so I made it my mission to have the sunniest disposition possible. Unfortunately, as time passed I struggled into adulthood, until one day I turned around and the sun was no longer following me and all I had left was despair. 

 

All I can do in the absence of light is try to sleep the day away, because when I open my eyes all I see is grey. The sun and everything beneath it is artificial and has no real meaning for me anymore. Obviously, I don’t go around stating that fact. I am disillusioned not only with my life but the whole world, so I often wear a manufactured smile and I play pretend the best I can. Moreover, even though I would never want anyone to have to bear witness to this endless spiral, sometimes the mask does slip and the tears start to flow onto the paths of others. Yet, one thing I will say that I have discovered is that everyone deserves to be selfish once and a while and look out for themselves. 

 

I wish I could lie and say I have obtained the tools to help get me out of this sinking pit of hopelessness, but I can’t. However, I can finally start to accept that Little Miss Sunshine isn’t coming back, because I am not a kid anymore, with childish dreams and priorities. I can’t afford to keep stressing myself out searching for the old me, the Cristina that was young, ignorant and had never been hurt, because that’s not realistic. Time has passed and I have learned some hard truths about life that I was sheltered from as a kid, many people also have hurt me and I have even beaten myself up to the point of no return. Hence, I have had a lot of time to contemplate possible ways out of the darkness, but sadly I have come up with nothing concrete to put into action.

 

But I do have one theory I have ruminated on for awhile. In a nutshell, it’s all about trying to accept who I am today, because whether or not I want to admit it, I am more vulnerable and likely to get sunburned. And, what is wrong with spending my time in the shade while I’m working on it? 

 

In the end, I have no idea what I am doing. I am really just trying to survive from one day to the next, but I don’t think that has to be a bad thing. So, though it can be scary at times, I have to stop being afraid of the dark, because I still have so much time to spare. That is not to say I am going to automatically have a better opinion of the world or myself and that I am not going to enjoy an occasional nap, but I hope if I wait long enough, the sun will return to my side again, brighter than ever. 

 

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My name is Cristina Crescenzo and I am an English major and aspiring writer just hoping that my words can help someone in some way, and that I can always strive to increase awareness for mental health and the disabled community.

Fear Less

Posted on by andrew

Grace Cheng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Being afraid is quite common among all of us, including myself, and it is completely normal. Fear of the unknown is a universal problem. Fear can be an essential survival instinct: as we attempt to survive life’s different struggles, our bodies watch over us with emotions like fear. Anytime we can sense any sort of danger, our bodies send a warning sign to our brains to engage fight-or-flight responses.

 

Have you ever felt that fear has held you back from doing things that you want to do and reaching your goals and dreams? I believe that overcoming fears is a life skill that everyone needs to learn. If we do not face and overcome our fears, it can prevent us from following our dreams and paralyze us from moving forward in our lives.

 

Want to know how you can overcome your fears? I have discovered 10 practical ways for you to tackle your fears.

 

1. Acknowledge your fears

 

The first step in overcoming your fears is to acknowledge your fears. When you have acknowledged them, you are beginning the journey of addressing the potential roadblocks that prevent you from moving forward in life. After you have acknowledged your known fears, you can start to learn how you can cope with them.

 

2. Identify what kind of fears you are facing

 

To be able to conquer your fears, you need to identify what kind of fears you are facing. You will need to ask yourself the following question: What kind of things are you afraid of? It is a good idea to write down all the things that scare you and record your feelings and thoughts about them. Once you have identified your fears, you can have a better understanding of why you do things a certain way and what is holding you back.

 

3. Face your fears

 

Bear in mind that when something seems scary, it does not always mean it is going to be a massive risk to your life. You should try to face your fears by taking small steps, and gradually you will be able to decrease your anxiety level. Keep in mind that there is always more than one way to tackle your fears.

 

4. Do the things that you fear

 

Once you understand that fear is just a feeling, you can take control of your life and do the things that scare you. The feeling of fear cannot destroy or hurt you, so you have a choice to ignore it and go forward. After you analyze the pros and cons of a situation, you might realize that the possibility of a negative result is minimal. If you are not acting recklessly in your decision-making, there is nothing that can stop you from moving forward to overcome your fears.

 

5. Turn your fears into fuel for personal development

 

Overcoming your fears can be seen as a way for self-improvement and personal development. Once you have tackled your fears, it can open doors for you to better opportunities. If you want to cope with your fears, you need to allow yourself time to grow. You can use your fear as leverage to help you achieve your goals and fulfill your dreams and destiny.

 

6. Think positive

 

Thinking positively can be a powerful tool to break through your fears. It takes time to see good results, and you might have to face failures in your first few trials. But if you keep yourself positive and stay focused on your goals and dreams, you will eventually see the results that you are looking for.

 

7. Join a support group

 

It is helpful to find a support group and ask people who have experienced similar situations to see how they have managed and overcome their fears and anxiety. You can learn a lot from them, especially through hearing their stories and experiences. A support group is a great way to encourage each other and brainstorm new ways to conquer fears.

 

8. Try mediation

 

Mediation can be a great method to overcome your fears and anxiety because it allows you to find inner peace to manage mental stress. Once you can relax, it will be easier for you to reduce your fears, anxiety and everyday stress.

 

9. Exercise regularly

 

Doing exercise regularly can help us to relax our bodies and minds, thus decreasing our fears and anxiety. Yoga can be a good exercise, because it can help us lower our blood pressure, reducing our stress and fears.

 

10. Take action

 

You must take action to tackle your fears, because action is the only way to change your life. Your life is made up of the choices you make today, and changes only happen when you change. Once you conquer your fears, you will realize how much progress you made and can start to live a more fulfilling life.

 

Are you ready to take action to overcome your fears today?

 

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Grace has an accounting and finance background. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies and playing sports.

Managing Fear

Posted on by andrew

MacKenzie Chalmers (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

As individuals, the experience of fear may determine our next steps in our journeys. We fear objects, people, experiences or change. We fear the unknown. Fear draws on our emotions, often creating feelings of panic to rise within our bodies. It can result in avoidance of the reason for the fear. 

 

As children, we may have feared the dark, the monsters in our closets or underneath our beds, or the basement.  

 

We fear change. Change in our home, lives, school or daily activities. 

 

We fear failure. Receiving bad grades, losing a competition or game, or losing out on an opportunity can result in feeling like you have failed. 

 

We fear the unknown. The potential to lose someone close to us, whether they are a family member, friend or family pet, is a factor that can create anxiety from the unknown. 

 

These are all ways that fear becomes present within us, growing until it begins to affect our daily lives. Sometimes we can grow out of a fear, and sometimes we cannot. 

 

Some steps to overcome fear: 

 

Think about the fear. 

 

Take a moment and think about the fear that you are experiencing. Are you about to do something that could cause an injury if done wrong? Perhaps you are about to learn how to ride a bike or skate for the first time, or are learning how to drive a car. You may be scared of getting hurt or hurting someone else, causing you to fear that activity. Think about the fear and make an attempt to understand the fear. 

 

If possible, educate yourself about the fear. 

 

You may be taking part in an activity such as skydiving, bungee jumping or ziplining, or riding a new rollercoaster at an amusement park. The activity itself can appear scary due to the height or another risk factor. However, complete as much research as possible. Research the safety measures of each activity. Research written material, watch videos from others sharing their own experiences, ask people that you may know about their own experience with those activities. Research the fear in any form that is available and you can create comfort within yourself, eliminating the fear.  

 

Prepare and practice. 

 

If it is possible, practice before taking part in the activity that is creating the fear. For example, you may fear public speaking. Read aloud to yourself, practicing your speech, and then slowly ask people to listen to you speak, increasing the amount of people in order to gain comfort in others watching and listening to you. 

 

Choose the right crowd. 

 

People can motivate you. Surround yourself with people who will push you to complete the activity that is making you fearful. Choose people who will support you and try to comfort and reassure you. 

 

Visualize. 

 

Remain positive. Visualize the outcome and the happiness you will experience when completing the activity that is making you fearful. Remember the reason you wanted to do the activity in the first place. 

 

Talk to someone about the fear. 

 

Talk to someone about your fear. You may think that keeping your fear to yourself will help. Talking to someone may allow for a weight to be lifted off of your shoulders. That person could understand your fear and relate to it, and may be able to offer advice. 

 

Breathe. 

 

Keep breathing. If you get yourself into a panic, remembering to breathe could help you relax. 

 

Fear lives within ourselves. It becomes present in many ways that are different for everybody. If we do not try to overcome fear, it can take over our lives, causing us to miss out on valuable and rewarding experiences. 

 

Fear will never go away, but we can try to overcome it each time. 

 

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MacKenzie is a digital media enthusiast with interests in various aspects of media. She takes part in novel hunting, photo and video creating and creative writing.