How to Keep Yourself Accountable for Facing Fears Each Day
Sep 27, 2022
I started the 100 days of kicking fear-in-the-butt campaign after being caught in the depths of a downward spiral in my mental health. I lost my confidence and self-worth, and the simple act of leaving the home proved to be a challenge. But I decided to face my fears head-on, in a very public way.
https://100-days-of-kicking-fear-in-the-butt.raisely.com
The 100 days of kicking fear in the butt campaign did just that and saw me put myself out there, despite the internal struggles that I continue to work on around feelings of anxiety and low self-worth. This helped raise awareness and funds for five national charities; RUOK?, Bears of Hope, Gidget Foundation, Friend in me and Friends with Dignity.
As I continue to work through feelings of anxiety and low self-worth, I wanted to hold myself even more accountable to adopt this ethos of facing fears each day and creating a community spirit around it, so I got my entire car wrapped in affirmations and messages of encouragement.
My car was once a plain Jane silver car that blended into the world, however, it is now a rainbow car, where there are no escaping looks and people commenting on it.
I am not going to lie. Each day I get into my car, I feel the fear, however, I know that for me to continue to heal, I need to face my fears head-on.
So I thought why not create a car that is a conversation starter, where children point it out to their parents, and a conversation around fears, confidence, and self-worth is kick-started?
As I drive around, I observe just that. Both children and adults point it out to each other and I have no doubt that some type of conversation around the themes commences.
That very act of me facing my fears every day has the potential to change a life or perhaps even save a life.
Real and raw conversations have the power to do just that. Change a life or save a life.
I'm not suggesting you go out and get your car wrapped in affirmations, however, unless, of course, that's what you want to do.
Spotto the affirmation car is looking for a brother or sister (haha)!
What I do encourage you to do though, is consider some of the below tips for keeping yourself accountable for facing fears each day.
Tips for keeping yourself accountable for facing fears
There is no one-size-fits-all answer for how to face fears each day, as what works for one person may not work for another. However, here are five tips that can help you keep yourself accountable and on track:
1. Make a list of your fears
The first step in facing your fears is acknowledging them. Make a list of all the things that scare you, from spiders to public speaking. Seeing your fears in black and white can be empowering and help you start to tackle them one by one.
2. Break down your fears into smaller, more manageable tasks
If your fear is of heights, perhaps you could start by looking at videos of people at heights. then perhaps it is stepping up a couple of steps on a ladder, followed by standing overlooking a balcony. Taking small steps will help build your confidence and make facing your fear less daunting.
3. Talk about your fears with someone you trust
Sharing your fears with someone who understands and supports you can be helpful in building up your courage to face them head-on. Talking about your fears also helps to reduce the power they have over you.
4. Visualise yourself conquering your fear
Visualising yourself successfully overcoming your fear can be a powerful tool in helping you achieve it. Picture yourself calmly and confidently dealing with the situation that scares you most and see yourself succeeding.
Remember that the mind does not know the difference between what is real or imagined and that mere thought can create a neural pathway, priming you up to face the fear in reality.
5. Create some fun around facing fears
There is great power in connecting with others who have faced and overcome similar fears or perhaps you may want to create some friendly rivalry and peer encouragement, as a group of friends, as you face your own fears.
Again, we are all different and there is not a one size fits all.
Try the above on for size and if it doesn't feel right for you, stop.
With mental health awareness month around the corner (October), it's a good time to actively reflect on your fears and to take stock of where you are at with your mental health, your confidence and your self-worth.
If your fears are holding you back from truly living, consider trying some of the techniques in this post to help keep yourself accountable for facing your fears. You never know who you might inspire by doing so.
Don't forget the importance of holding yourself accountable for facing your fears, as the more you actively face these fears head-on, slowly the grip the fears have on you will lift.
If you're struggling with anxiety or low self-worth, know that you're not alone and that there is help available. Remember, if I can do it, anyone can and we are all in this together.
For those of you who require mental health support, please reach out to your GP.
If you require urgent support, please don't suffer in silence.
Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, who are available 24/7 to support you or a loved one (Australia only).
You've got this and we would LOVE to celebrate you and share your wins across socials!
Feel free to tag #kickfearinthebutt and we will proudly share your win.
Disclaimer: ' Mumma life is now’ is not a replacement for therapeutic, mental and/or medical care. The information provided on the 'Mumma life is now' website and on social pages is general in nature and for educational purposes only.
Thank you to Matt, Mist and the team at Signarama Erina for bringing this project to life.
If you are wanting your car wrapped or any other printing work, I highly recommend Signarama Erina
(no affiliate commissions, I just highly recommend this business).