6 Strategies for Confronting Your Fears

Did you know that October 14th marks National Face Your Fears Day? It’s often said that by stepping outside your comfort zone just a little each day, you can lead a more fulfilling and exciting life while boosting your confidence. Many people resonate with this idea, and with a day dedicated to confronting your fears, it’s the perfect opportunity to try something you’ve always wanted to do but hesitated to attempt!

Travel has the power to motivate individuals to overcome their fears and embrace new challenges. Personally, I never imagined myself jumping off cliffs or swimming in deep waters before embarking on our travels. However, being away from home and the barriers that held me back allowed me to conquer many of my phobias and anxieties. There was a time when I was terrified of swimming in open water, but thanks to our global adventures, I’ve swum with whale sharks, interacted with dolphins and sea lions, and snorkeled in some of the most stunning and deepest waters on the planet. I would never have attempted any of this if I had remained safely tucked away in my apartment.

There’s something liberating about being on vacation that encourages you to try new things. For us, we’re about to embark on a Dinogo cruise. While we’re not suggesting you should leap from a plane if you have a fear of heights, perhaps you might consider a canopy tour in Honduras or climbing a volcano in St. Kitts. If you’ve always been shy about meeting new people, a cruise offers the chance to introduce yourself to strangers and be whoever you wish. You could even visit local markets and chat with shopkeepers. You’re on vacation! It’s your moment to pursue whatever you’ve always wanted to try.

Fear manifests differently for everyone. For some, it might mean boarding a plane for the first time or navigating bustling streets in a foreign city. Dave and I experience fear in unique ways. He has an intense phobia of ants, yet we often find ourselves traveling in tropical regions teeming with fire ants, army ants, and leafcutter ants. Interestingly, Dave was once hesitant about visiting a spa when we began our travels, feeling anxious about how to behave. Now, the first thing he checks at a hotel is the spa menu! Fear truly comes in all forms.

Taking a vacation or going on a cruise with your loved one can help you discover a compromise or harmony in your relationship. I may not be able to leap off a bungy platform, but I can rappel or zipline through the trees. While Dave won’t touch deep-fried crickets or baked grasshoppers, he’s willing to try local seafood when we venture into town. Our fears may differ, but we enjoy helping each other overcome them, step by step.

How can we overcome our fears? Here are some of our suggestions. 

Start Small – Avoid pushing yourself beyond your limits. If you're afraid of tight spaces, diving in a cenote in Mexico might be overwhelming. Instead, consider a gentle walking cave tour that minimizes feelings of claustrophobia. If you’ve always wanted to try scuba diving but feel anxious about going 30 feet deep, start with snorkeling to ease into it. Rock climbing or bungee jumping might feel too daunting, but rappelling or ziplining through the jungle can still provide excitement without being overly extreme.

Have a Support Team – When I took the polar plunge in Antarctica, the thought of jumping into freezing water terrified me. Having friends around me for support made a huge difference. Their positive energy enveloped me, providing the reassurance I needed to take the leap into sub-zero temperatures. Had I attempted it alone, I likely would have backed out.

Embrace Positive Thinking – When fear strikes, we concentrate on positive affirmations. Thoughts like, “People do this all the time; I’ll be just fine,” have helped me take the plunge off cliffs into frigid waters when I was hesitant. This mindset has also empowered Dave to navigate through a spider web-laden jungle path during an early morning hike. We remind ourselves that many have faced similar challenges and come out unscathed. We’re not extreme adventurers soaring through canyons in wing suits; we’re just ordinary people stretching our comfort zones, knowing we’ll be alright. The mind is incredibly powerful, and by fostering positive thoughts, we can conquer our fears.

Challenge Yourself Regularly – Many believe that Dave and I are fearless, but the reality is we are afraid of many things. We fear failure, the struggle of completing a challenging hike, and the uncertainties of new experiences. During our winter trek through the Missinaibi Headwaters, we were anxious about traversing frozen lakes, enduring -30˚ nights, and maintaining the endurance for a 100km hike. If we hadn’t faced numerous smaller fears in the past, this daunting challenge would have seemed impossible. However, because we routinely confront our fears, we knew that if we remained focused and persevered, we would likely come through unscathed.

Express Your Fears – Often, we think we are the only ones feeling afraid in a situation, but when I admit my nerves, I find that others share the same sentiment. Whether it’s sitting on a boat ready to enter a cage to dive with great white sharks or confronting whitewater in a kayak, voicing our fears alleviates the burden. People often remark, “I thought you weren’t afraid of anything,” assuming we are fearless. Yet, it turns out we share their fears, if not more. There is strength in numbers; knowing we’re not alone can significantly reduce our fear.

Engage a Professional – Dave and I often undertake activities that might seem downright crazy. For instance, I once flew a stunt plane in New Zealand, and Dave jumped from a plane there too. Throughout these experiences, we had professionals by our side. When tackling a challenging hike or navigating a raging river by kayak, we don’t go in without preparation. We either take a course or hire a guide. Having an expert to instruct, support, and ensure our safety can significantly reduce the fears we may experience. With a professional looking out for you, you may uncover a courage within yourself that you never knew existed.

With National Face Your Fears Day approaching to inspire everyone, now is the perfect time to plan something that intimidates you. Do something that challenges you today! Perhaps you’ve hesitated to talk to someone you have a crush on, or you’ve been reluctant to apply for that new job. If heights make you anxious, maybe it’s time to ride the elevator to the top of the tallest building in your city and take in the view from the highest floor. Whether your challenge is big or small, today is your day to tackle it head-on.

This post was created in collaboration with Dinogo. As always, all opinions, thoughts, and ideas expressed in this post are our own.