Do something every day that scares you. Or at least once a week. Or at least occasionally—it is life affirming! The thing I did recently was really basic, and I’m sure most people would think I’m a total wimp for having anxiety about it. But it was challenging for me. I swam in a pond. Big deal, right? Well it was, because I had always avoided that pond because I’d been told I could get my toe snapped off by a turtle. And I imagined other creepy creatures just under the surface ready to bite. (I know there’s eels and catfish and who knows what else?) Plus I’ve always hated swimming in dark water where you can’t see what’s beneath you (thanks Jaws). It wasn’t exactly fun swimming out far and thinking about the turtles, but I felt great afterward. And then I went in the next three days and actually enjoyed it.
We often take on the anxieties and fears of our elders/ancestors/families without even realizing it. Not to mention society’s conditioning. Casting off the unfounded fears is so liberating, you may just become addicted to the rush of doing so. What can you do today that scares you? Talk to a stranger? Speak in public? Have a difficult conversation you’ve been putting off? Try it— you just may surprise yourself.