Its time to let fear go, for the sake of your health.

Chances are you are much better at the things that scare you than you believe you are. Our minds like to play tricks on us. Tricks that have been craftily developing for millenia in our reptilian minds. After all, for most of humanity’s existence on this planet we were in a constant state of survival.

Fear was quite healthy in the days before modern comforts and conveniences. How else would we know to avoid things with sharp teeth, steer clear of murky waters, or feel alert during the middle of the night when strange noises woke us up?

In a world of caution tape, queen sized beds, and pre-packaged everything our survival mechanisms may be overkill. We fear things that in no way shape or form could harm us physically. In fact, we may be doing ourselves more physical harm through the stress of not taking action on something due to fear.

Acute stress can be healthy.

For example, in the circumstance of physical exertion (exercise) our bodies produce many helpful hormones promoting growth in the mind and body, and reducing stress after the exertion. Even the stress from riding a roller coaster and being scared can have positive benefits on your body. Just think back to how you feel after a few good gut twisting theme park rides.

Chronic stress is detrimental to our health.

We were designed to deal with acute stresses out in the wilderness, followed by periods of relaxation and community back at camp. We did not evolve with hand held rectangles continuously buzzing for our attention.

The buzzing of our phones appears harmless. Most times when it buzzes, we don’t consciously feel any stress response. Some times we do, anticipating a conversation or notification we dread to take part in. Even when these feelings go unnoticed, they may still be generating a physical stress response in your body. Over time these small stresses add up, especially when they are consistent over long periods.

But why are you feeling stressed over a string of symbols on a screen?

Chances are those symbols contain a meaningful connection to you in regards to something troubling. A new fire to put out at work, an ex-lover wanting their prized possession back, or an unwanted financial reminder.

In all of these situations, there are few, if any, true dangers.

Even if you lost your job, your house, or your bank account you yourself will be fine. Sure there will be things to figure out, such as a new career path, a friends house to crash in, or a line of credit to open. But truthfully you will be fine.

Society may tell you that these and more situations like them are “bad”, “scary”, “stressful”, and that you should feel terrible for being in them. But why? Is anyone getting hurt? Are you getting hurt? The answer is no, when we are willing to disconnect from the preconceptions of others.

These examples may be a bit extreme, but that’s the point. Even in what many believe to be “terrible” situations, there is very little happening that is actually terrible. In most situations, there is nothing bad happening at all.

It all comes down to what you believe.

If you know that there is nothing to fear from most every event in your life, then you are empowered to take action. You know that making that call, sending that email, or reading that message cannot hurt you. The preconceptions of others and the esoteric symbols they use to express their beliefs need have no effect on you.

But don’t forget, we are all still human.

Do not worry if you still feel stressed even in the most simple of situations. There are professional speakers, musicians, and actors that still get butterflies in their stomachs decades into their careers. We are all human.