When the feeling of fear become so overwhelming, learn to relax by focusing on your breath. Practice breathing exercise. Any position you choose to stay before starting your breathing exercise is fine. The most important thing is that you are comfortable in your preferred position.

Breathing is another tool you can use to control your fear. Once you notice you are becoming fearful, take a break and focus on your breathing.

Taking conscious breathes forces your body to relax and be calm. Breathing exercise is a good way to relax, relieve stress and reduce tension in your body.

Allow your body to relax and let go of the surrounding tension. Breathe in slowly and gradually breathe out.

Focus your mind in the present moment as you continue inhaling and exhaling. As you engage in this breathing exercise, it is normal for your mind to wander to so many things, but call your attention back to the present moment that you are. When fearful thoughts come, take deep breaths; inhale and exhale at the count of eight (8) or more. 

Let go of the fear from the past or future and focus on the sound of your breathe.

As you exhale, release all the negative thoughts which forms your fear. As you continue breathing in and out, allow the feelings of calmness and peace come into your body. As you welcome calm and peace, keep breathing till your mind is focused on your breath.

Breathing is an antidote for fear!

Another way to overcome your fear is to make a list of what you are afraid of and the reason you are afraid. For example:

“I am afraid of talking in the public because I might not speak well”

Make a plan to control this fear.

Instead of being afraid of making mistakes in public because you cannot speak well, Try speaking aloud on your own and practice new vocabulary.

Make a list of your fear and turn them into positive affirmations.

✍️ My fear is not my reality.

✍️My past does not define me.

✍️ I choose to be positive.

✍️My past is my past.

✍️My fear does not control me.

Getting a support system can help you overcome your fears.

If you cannot do this alone, confide in a support system you trust (Family, Therapist, Mentor, Pastors, Friends, Etc.) who can help you go through the feelings of fear. Discuss how you feel when you are afraid and share the points it occurs.

Fear is from the devil. It is a tool the devil uses against us. Sometimes, the feelings of fear becomes so intense and leads us to make poor decisions or take absurd actions.

Fear begins with a thought of what has not happened in your life.

For example: 
What if I die?
What if it doesn’t work?
What if they laugh at me?

As you dwell on these thoughts, you gradually sink deeper and lose faith in God.

Besides, when fear is present, Faith is gone. Where does your fear come from? Your mind is profound and has the power to think of numerous things at the same time. Some of your fears could result from early childhood experiences that shaped your thoughts today.

Your parent or teacher or a significant person in your life must have told you not to do certain things because they are perilous or the world is a wicked and unsafe place.

Because of these experiences, these words shape your thoughts and you think that the world is indeed perilous just as they have told you.

You create these fears that mirror the things you have been told,

and your fearful thoughts create your fearful experiences.

To overcome your fear, you need to recognise what triggers you to fear. Ask yourself the reason you are afraid. When you understand your fear, you recognise your symptoms and notice the change that happens to you when fear creeps in. Some people show different signs when they are afraid. Some signs are: Stomach pain, racing heartbeat, sweating on the body or only on the palms, having the feeling of faint, overwhelmed by panic, Etc. 

All your fear signs are valid and you need to accept what is happening to you at the moment as your fear creeps in. Reflect on the cause of your fear (s). It could be a traumatic event or stories from your childhood, or now. It could be what the significant people in your life told you. It is okay to have fears, but your fears should be addressed. 

Fears are thoughts you learn, and it is possible that you can “Un-learn” these fearful thoughts. When you understand your fear, you are in a better position to handle them.
Identify your belief about what you are fearful of and face your fears. Talk back to yourself positively when the feeling of fear creeps in.

In the holy bible, Isaiah 41:10. In this verse, God said to you and I: 

              “Fear not, for I am with you.”

God is aware of the presence of fear, but he is assuring that you should not fear
because he is with you. Therefore, fear is not from God. One thing about being afraid is that fear allows you to see obstacles instead of opportunities in your life. 
“Fear not” is a reminder of God’s help and presence in your life. 

What is your biggest fear? Are you troubled about the present or you are worried about the future? I will leave these questions to you. There are so many reminders about “Fear not” in the bible. Your situation might overwhelm, you may despair, and give up, but always remind yourself of God’s promise. “Fear not, for I am with you”!.

Remember, you are not going through difficult moments alone. I will share the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth in the bible.
These couple has been serving God for a long time. They served God with all their heart and all they lived for was to do well before God. These couples had no child in their marriage. Albeit, they had prayed for a child in their marriage for a long time, but it seems that God did not answer. So, they were worried and afraid they will grow old and live the rest of their life without children. 

One day, as Zachariah was on duty in the temple, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and delivered a message (from God) to Zachariah. In the holy book, Luke 1:13 The Angel of the Lord said:
“Fear not, Zachariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son and you will name him John.”
When Zachariah received God’s message he was full of doubts because his wife was already old and passed the age of child birth.

Eventually, Elizabeth became pregnant and gave birth to a baby despite her old age. The couple praised God. From the story above, there is nothing God cannot do, but he reminds us to “Fear not!” Because he is with us.

Let me also refer you to another story in the holy bible. Matthew chapter 26:69-74. 
Peter denies Jesus. 

(69) Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard and a servant girl came to him “You also were with Jesus of Galilee” she said.

(70) But he denied it before them all. “I do not know what you are talking about” He said.

 (71) Then he went out to the gateway where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with the people of Nazareth”

(72) He denied it again with an oat saying “I don’t know the man”

(73) After a little while those standing there went up to peter and said: 
“Surely, you are one of them; your accent gives you away”

(74) Then he called curses down and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man”.

The passage above shows how much fear can control us. Prior Jesus was seized, Peter bragged he will never leave Jesus’ side no matter the circumstance (s). As the events unfolded about Jesus’ betrayal (By 
one of his disciples) Peter denied Jesus three times.

Peter was afraid to be identified with Jesus at that moment because he saw how Jesus was handled roughly by the soldiers. Peter was afraid Jesus will die in the hands of the men that seized him. He was also afraid of his own life as well.
After denying Jesus three times, he realized he did not keep his promise of staying close to Jesus, and he felt sorry for what he did. At that moment, fear took the best part of Peter and he denied the one he loved.

What is fear?
Before I start, we all must have had this feeling called “fear” at a different point in our lives, which may be because of the circumstances at that point in time. This feeling of fear might be because of the obscure or a specific thing.
Subsequently, I will leave you with the question by asking; what fear mean to you? (You can reply on your own and if you would like to share, drop your answer(s) in the comment section below).

Fear could be a feeling caused by worry because of perceived threat. Fear is a natural feeling and at a few points in your life, you have experienced fear. There are many reasons you feel fear. A few of these reasons for fear are:

Fear of failure. 

Fear of rejection. 

Fear of love. 

Fear of being alone. 

Fear of the unknown.

Due to these fears, you can be held back from taking further steps to achieve your goals. Instead of focusing on your fears, feel it and do it! Just because you feel fear does not mean you should be afraid.

The first step to overcoming your fear is questioning your thoughts. What is the worst thing that can happen to you if you let go of your fear? If this should happen, will you still be living? If yes, then you can let go of your fears. Be aware of your fears and make plans to overcome them.
Be ready to go through the process of change when overcoming your fears. The 
process of change can be hard and can lead to further worry and uncertainty because you ask yourself if you are actually ready to overcome fear and go through the process of change. For an example, a smoker might have made up his/her mind to quit smoking, but the fear of going through the process might hold you back. You get worried about how it will be hard you will live without doing what you are used to. You are afraid of having a new experience with yourself without smoking. 

Although, it might not be smoking, but there are several habits we engage in or certain things we do and we want to stop, but the question of “What if…” holds you back from overcoming your fear.
Instead of dwelling on “What If (s)…” reflect on the benefits of overcoming your fear. It could be to start a new project/business, starting a new routine, starting a new meal plan, changing your way of living. These changes might bring uncertainty, but it is worth taking that bold step to overcome your fear.

At a point in my life, I felt God deliberately favoured some people and left some (like me) behind.

Why am I telling you my story? The reason is that I want to let you know that I used to be a victim of fear and now; I am taking baby steps to overcome fear by sharing my story with you all who will read.
Fear is like a cage that has a chain. This chain pulls you back when you try to escape. For you to let go of fear, you need to get rid of the chain that is holding you before you get out of the cage and set yourself free.
The only way to be free is by not letting that fear rule you or take advantage of you. 

Fear made me unable to go out because I feared how people would judge me. I sat down and asked myself “if I do not set myself free, who will”? No one! Either I let go of fear or remain a slave of fear. Of course, I choose the former. 
I overcame my fear by letting myself free and I stopped having bad images about people judging me and pointing fingers at me. I stopped having fear of trying out new things like; going out to party and exposing myself to good things. If you are held back by fear, then I am the right person to tell you that whatever voice that is telling you, you cannot do anything is a lie! Because you can do it and you have the potential. Don’t let that little voice lie to you. You can conquer almost any fear if you decide to conquer.

Dale Carnegie once said, “Fear doesn’t exist 
anywhere except in the mind”.

Thank you Hellen for allowing me share your story on my blog.

Thank you for inspiring us. Keep winning! 

°Her blog’s name is- hellensblog123 ( If you wish to follow her blog)