A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to face one of my fears, and it was a very liberating experience. I felt incredibly confidant afterwards and realized that what I had been afraid of really wasn't scary at all! On top of that, I've been talking with a few different folks who have been facing their fears lately. It's amazing to see and hear about the changes people can make when they put their minds to it. It got me to thinking about things that I'm afraid of and what I can do to face those fears head on. Here's a list of some things that scare me and some steps I plan to take to get over them!
Reason: I'm afraid of it suddenly going from vertical to horizontal and am terrified of leaning into curves, which naturally only makes it worse.
Solutions: I can start out riding with someone I trust in paved, secluded areas where I don't have to worry about traffic or stop signs. Once I feel comfortable with that, I'd eventually like to build up to being okay with driving a motorcycle through a town.
2. Having my veins touched.
Reason: It's an intense, irrational fear that was amplified when treated as a joke by a significant other.
Solutions: I can start by just looking at my veins for a set amount of time and slowly increase that time as I get more and more comfortable. I want to work up to touching my own veins, having someone else touch them, and finally having my wrists squeezed without it significantly affecting me.
3. Listening to the sound of metal scraping metal or teeth scraping metal.
Reason: The sound itself makes my teeth ache and makes me want to clench my jaw.
Solutions: I can positively reinforce myself whenever I hear the sound. To keep my teeth and jaw busy, I can chew gum or gummies that I like when I hear the sound so that I have a positive association.
4. Abandonment.
Reason: Family problems as a child and young adult.
Solutions: Because there's nothing I can do to change the actions of others, I need to work on improving my sense of self confidence and self worth. I want to work on being really secure with myself, so that when people do move out of my life I don't feel a deep, painful sense of abandonment. I can improve my confidence by thinking positively, focusing on my accomplishments rather than perfection, and remembering to move my body!
