One of the biggest problems I have come across in my professional work and in my personal life is avoidance. We all avoid things we fear. Sometimes we allow life to pass us by because we are too afraid to take the next step. Have you been too afraid too leave a miserable relationship, go travelling round the world or start a new relationship? What is it that you are avoiding? We can all find something that we are hiding from.
I’m asking you to be brave and to stop avoiding. Identify what it is that you have been avoiding? Ask yourself what the costs have been of avoiding – are you lonely because you are too scared to go on a date? Are you stuck in a dead-end job because you are too afraid to go on interviews or ask for a raise/promotion? There will be consequences for your avoidance. Are you wasting opportunities in life?
Go on, live a little and put fear on the back burner. Death is the only real thing to fear – don’t be afraid of humiliation, failure and rejection. Each one of those can be mastered with the right attitude. They teach you about yourself, about your strengths and weaknesses.
Get out there and start making mistakes, Get out there and have fun. Stop taking life so seriously. Stop being so cautious. Ask yourself what’s the worst that can happen and if the worst does happen, what could you do to cope? We always underestimate our ability to cope but how will you ever find out how strong you are if you keep avoiding?
Start finding out what you’re made of. Readjust how you see your fears – they are just based on your insecurities, self doubt and past experience. Every new experience might be totally different from what you think but you have to face it to find out. Are you in control of your life or is your fear in control?
Mandy X
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
