Facing Your Fears is a Process, Not an Event!
Overcoming deep-seated fears is challenging but very possible with determined effort over time.
Two nights ago, I was watching Orion and the Dark, a 2024 American animated on Netflix. It is based on the book by Emma Yarlett and written by Charlie Kaufman.
The story revolves around a boy named Orion, afraid of the Dark. When the literal embodiment of his worst fear, the Dark, appears, he takes Orion on a journey to show him the benefits of darkness and help him conquer his fears.
Throughout their adventure, Orion meets various night entities and eventually befriends the Dark, realising that the Dark can be fun, engaging, and magical.
One line I enjoyed in the movie is when Orion asks the Dark if he can eliminate all his fears in one night!
Well, as you can assume - the answer is no!
Fear is a natural and even necessary emotion that helps protect us from danger. Sometimes, our fears hold us back from reaching our full potential.
We may fear failure, rejection, the unknown, or anything that stops us from taking risks and challenging ourselves. Overcoming fear is an ongoing process, not something that happens simultaneously.
Trying to suddenly let go of all your fears in a single night would be unrealistic and likely unsuccessful. Fears develop over time as we accumulate experiences and form beliefs about the world and ourselves.
They become ingrained habits and thinking patterns that take time to break. Pushing yourself too far too fast can even be counterproductive, resulting in setbacks that further entrench your fears.
Lasting change requires patience, self-compassion, and small, achievable steps outside your comfort zone. As you gradually face more minor fears with support, you build confidence in handling more complex challenges.
Each time you take a risk and see it was worth it - that the worst-case scenario didn't happen - your fears lose some power over you. Progress won't always be linear, but anxiety lessens over time, and the impossible seems possible.
Rather than expecting overnight transformation, be proud of each small victory over fear. Celebrate your courage as you work to create a life aligned with your deepest hopes and values. Know that you have within you the fortitude to move forward on this journey of liberation one day at a time.
Overcoming deep-seated fears is challenging but very possible with determined effort over time.
