WHAT IS FEAR?
Fear is an emotional response to danger. The danger could be slight, like being laughed at in a crowd, or lethal, like a shark attack. Either way, our body reacts with fear, which triggers a response to fight or flee a threatening situation. Fear is also very common when preparing to step out of a comfort zone such as:
• Going for a job interview
• Introducing yourself to new people or starting a new group/activity/sport
• Going on a first date (or plucking up the courage to ask someone out on one)
• Returning an item to a shop
• Speaking, singing or performing in public.
Fear is Power concentrates on teaching you to manage your fear associated with stepping out of a comfort zone.
 
FEAR vs ANXIETY
A common question people often ask is What’s the difference between fear and anxiety? The difference is:

• Fear - the danger is visible, present and CAN happen (being confronted by an aggressive dog while going for a walk)

• Anxiety - the danger COULD happen in the future, but is not visible (while going for a walk you have thoughts of possibly coming across an aggressive dog).
 
CAN FEAR REALLY BENEFIT ME?
Fear has the potential to either give you the power to step out of your comfort zone or make you a prisoner of it. To help explain how fear has both positive and negative potentials we can compare it to water: without it we die, too much and we drown. Yet when properly harnessed, fear, like water, is a life-giving tool. Fear has been designed to protect
 
YOUR FEAR IS UNIQUE TO YOU ALONE?
Often we mismanage our fear by comparing it with others. This is a receipe for disaster because our fears are so unique. Fear is directly related to both a person’s life experiences and the situation they are in at the time, which is why people’s fears are so individual. Take the example of the young mother who is scared to assert herself, though quite willing to endure the pain of having a third child. Remember - your fingerprints and even your tongue-print are like no one else’s. You are unique, a one of a kind. Your fears are unique to you.
 
HOW WE MISMANAGE FEAR.
Fear isn't the problem, it's the way we try to manage it (or rather, mismanage it) which is. For most of us we want to avoid experiencing fear at all costs and will go to great lengths to do so. As a result we develop "safety-behaviours" as a form of protection from experiencing fear, but these behaviours are usually counter-productive. An example of a helpful safety-behaviour could be jumping back after stepping on a snake. Examples of unhelpful safety-behaviours could be avoiding talking to someone new at a party or function because you feel nervous about doing it; looking away instead of maintaining eye contact while having a conversation with a person; resisting the urge to go and ask someone out on a date so as to avoid the anxious feelings and possible rejection of doing so; procrastination - you can't fail something you don't actually do; to taking drugs or alcohol in order to get rid of pain or hurtful memories.
By seeing fear as the enemy and trying to run from experiencing it will only makes things worse. Remember, your fear is not there to hurt you, but rather it's there to help and protect you.
 
FEAR IS A NATURAL PROTECTOR
Fear has evolved from our ancestors to protect us against danger. To help explain why fear is a natural protector, you will need to know a little bit about your body. Fear helps trigger chemical and physical changes in your body to protect you against danger, commonly known as the ‘fight or flight’ response. Let’s consider the example of stumbling across a snake during a walk. Your fear will trigger the adrenal gland to secrete a hormone into your bloodstream called adrenaline (or epinephrine). Adrenaline helps to produce a series of specific changes in your body, all with the aim of preparing you to be fully alert against danger. Your heartbeat might increase, your blood pressure might rise, your breathing rate might increase – your fear has helped trigger all these reactions in your body for many reasons. Knowing these reasons and that it’s normal to experience different responses during fearful situations can empower you.
Here are some normal body responses to fear listed below:

• Rapid breathing: Your lungs are trying to get as much oxygen into your bloodstream as possible. The more oxygen you have in your blood, the easier it is for your brain and major muscles to perform fast physical movements.

• Increased heart rate: The oxygenated blood needs to be pumped to your brain and major muscles, and away from areas that don’t have an immediate, active role, such as the digestive organs and extremities like skin, hands and feet.

• Pale face: As the blood is pumped away from your extremities, the lack of blood causes these areas to become pale and cold to the touch.

• Need to go to the toilet: As the blood is directed away from the digestive system and toward the brain, lungs and major skeletal muscles, your digestive system, bowel and bladder are temporarily shut down, resulting in non-essential substances being discarded – hence the need to go to the toilet.

• Dryness of mouth and throat: Saliva production (which is part of digestion) ceases as the digestive system is temporarily shut down. This also causes a loss of appetite.

• Sweating and rise in body temperature: Glucose stored in the liver is released into the bloodstream and converted into energy, ready to be used to meet the threat at hand. This raises the body temperature and causes sweating.
The whole process outlined above occurs unconsciously in 8–10 seconds. So the next time you experience these symptoms before a fearful situation, rest assured that this is perfectly normal. The knowledge that these responses are designed to help you will assist you in managing them. The physical symptoms of fear are making you alert and protecting you against potential harm. This protection makes fear valuable.
 
NORMAL vs EXCESSIVE FEAR
How do you know when fear has become a problem in your life? Even though it’s normal to feel fear when facing a new challenge, fear can be regarded as a problem when it interferes with your:

• everyday living

• achievement of desired goals

• reasonable emotional comfort.
This usually occurs when a person tries desperately to avoid experiencing fear. Usually the greater the lengths a person goes to avoid experiencing fear, the greater the trouble they will have with fear.
Remember, when you are able to beat your fear on one particular day, this doesn’t mean it won’t be back the next. It’s like brushing your teeth: just because you brush them once doesn’t mean they’re protected against decay for the rest of your life. You cannot beat fear but you can use it to your advantage. Fear is power. Make your fear work for you.