So you’ve got a phobia or two. Congratulations, you’re human. Even though fears can be paralysing, conquering them is within your power. At every Tough Mudder event, we see thousands of people accomplish things that mere hours before they thought were impossible.
Having talked with countless Mudders who have overcome their fear of heights, enclosed spaces, failure and more, we’ve learned a thing or two about flipping fear the finger, and it’s about time we shared our findings.
Here are four steps to overcoming your deepest fears:
1. Admit It
Before you solve any problem, you’ve got to admit there is one. The same goes for fears. If you want to overcome a fear, you’re first going to have to acknowledge it. No matter what your fear is (yeah, even that one), remember you didn’t choose it, and you certainly shouldn’t feel guilty or weird about having it.
2. Take It Slow
If you’re afraid of heights, you don’t need to go book a skydive as soon as you finish reading this (big kudos if you do of course.) It’s all about taking baby steps in a safe environment, like standing near the edge of a mini drop such as a balcony, you’ll slowly build your emotional stamina and confidence.
3. Take a Mate
You are never the only person with a fear and chances are there are people close to you that share your phobia. Every event, and nearly every obstacle, we see how a little bit of teamwork can help overcome big fears. Whether it’s watching Mudders countdown in unison before plunging into Arctic Enema or chanting “If I can do it you can do it” at Funky Monkey, we’re constantly reminded that fear is no match for friendship.
4. See the Future
If you’re going to overcome your fears you’re going to have to face them, and it’s probably (read: definitely) going to make you feel uncomfortable. However, as the old saying goes: no pain, no gain. Every time you feel uncomfortable or scared, take it as an invitation to expand your comfort zone and remember that drops of water eventually fill a bucket. (Think we got enough mottos in there?)
While there is never a convenient time to start facing your fears, always keep this in mind: a year from now, you’ll have wished you started today. Start conquering those fears today and sign up for a Tough Mudder event. See you in the mud.
