Healthy Living

Saturday, November 28, 2009

October 13th is Face Your Fears Day: How will you celebrate?


We all have it, that little nagging voice in the back of our thoughts that discourage us, quiet us, keep us from doing something radical in our lives. Sometimes, the voice is accompanied by chills, shaking, exhaustion, or feeling like we can't move a single limb. That voice is fear and whether it screams out or whispers to you, whether it has kept you from jumping out of a plane or giving up smoking or sliding into Spandex running tights or walking away from a toxic relationship, it is holding each of us back.

That's why I love that somebody somewhere has declared October 13th to be Face Your Fears Day, issuing each of us the challenge to shout back at that nagging voice, "Oh hell no, mister. Not today."

The site spurring this whole fear-kicking campaign bravely asks, "How different would your life be if you were able to get past your biggest fears?" and offers up some great, creative tips for getting that started tomorrow (rather than waiting for New Year's to start anew).

Of course, some fears are healthy (the shiver I feel when I see a kid riding a bike without a helmet comes to mind), and some require guidance from a professional (diagnosed medical conditions and serious phobias, for example).

Aside from those, what are you afraid of that you would like to release?

I'll start. I have talked and talked and talked about wanting to be a runner without really committing to the training it will require for me to do that. Last week, I was asked to join a team of 12 women to participate in a 30-hour running relay. That little voice screamed at me for hours to  make up an excuse, back out, sprint walk slowly in the other direction without looking back. I am terrified, but I said yes anyway. I am not sure why, but I did. Tomorrow, in honor of this day and of myself, I am going to start my training.

It might not be pretty. I might be out of breath and collapsed on the street in four minutes, but it will be a start.

What about you? What fear are you ready to face?


[via MizFitOnline]
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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 10
  • genz l's Avatar
    Posted by genz l Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:13pm PDT

    Ha! Face my biggest fear and do an oral presentation in class!

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  • carol's picks's Avatar
    Posted by carol's picks Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:15pm PDT

    Actually put together a party with FACE YOUR FEARS as the theme for the tween age group.. check it out.. makes for an awesome Halloween party too.

    http://www.celebrationideasonline.com/scary-halloween-party-idea.html

    You're never too young or old to face up to fear!

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  • pixic_3's Avatar
    Posted by pixic_3 Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:30pm PDT

    i will NOT go near a snake, much less touch one! there r others, but that one's a pretty strong fear.

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  • J's Avatar
    Posted by J Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:45am PDT

    I'm afraid of men. What am i suppose to do? i would rather not have a man touch me, be it a shoulder pat or whatever.

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  • Velvet Raindrops's Avatar
    Posted by Velvet Raindrops Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:04pm PDT

    Well I thought I was deathly afraid to jump out of a moving plane but I took that fear by the horns and came out the winner! Woohoo, I ended up barrel rolling out of a moving airplane at 14000 ft and free falling for 60 seconds before the chute opened and we drifted gently on the breeze for the next 5 minutes. Actually it wasn't that gentle, my reckless instructor was doing all sorts of crazy tricks in the air, I was sure our chute would buckle underneath us and down we'd go. But it was an experience too wicked for words!! I highly recommend everyone try skydiving, it's definitely a trip! The one thing I absolutely will not do: jump into water that is anything over my head. Not even off a dock into the lake. I panic every time I've tried.

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  • Mauna's Avatar
    Posted by Mauna Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:35pm PDT

    Have them all sent to the Theatre and watch the Movie Paranormal....LOL perhaps that will help scare the hell out of them.

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  • RachelS's Avatar
    Posted by RachelS Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:16pm PDT

    I am afraid of losing my family. Me and my husband has had a lot of problems in the past and we have split up many times so I am worried to death about it and I so scared that I can never trust him again. But I try so hard so maybe it will work out I do not know not a day goes bye I do not feel like I am on pens and needles and expect the rug to be pulled out from under my marriage.

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  • Annimal's Avatar
    Posted by Annimal Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:09pm PDT

    If you live in fear of something you'll only attact it into your life in a negative way. Especially a fear of your husband leaving you. Think about what you want (You want to be happily married, have a functional family etc.) and not about what you dont want ( You don't want your husband to leave, you don't want to be lonely.). You'll lose that fear.

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  • Ana Caterina's Avatar
    Posted by Ana Caterina Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:28am PDT

    I didn't know it was Face Your Fears Day, but I did face mine in a way.

    My biggest fear right now is that I'll lose the bond I have with my family due to lack of time, in other words, that we'll become merely strangers living under the same roof.

    Yesterday, I made a list on why that is *not* going to happen. Then a list on what can we all do to prevent that from happening. And then I started doing on my list. Yesterday, I left school at 6:35 pm and I was supposed to have a dance practice at 8:30 pm. Normally, I'd just find a quiet cafe where I can read a book or listen to music and wait it out. Yesterday I went home, just for the sake of spending half an hour with my mother. I felt so much better after that.

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  • Lizbeth's Avatar
    Posted by Lizbeth Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:17am PDT

    Fearing that I won't fulfill my life's purpose, or discover my life's purpose. My sister and I share this type A, perfectionist thing that often feels like two hands on our behinds, shoving us out and into the world (away from naps, into the gym or the track, into high demand professions, running faster, kayaking harder, hiking higher)

    As a means of giving my 'motor' a break, I'm learning to say no to the gym, ignore phone calls so I can eat my dinner in peace, at a table and get in tune with being in the moment.

    The answers can't come if we're always asking questions.

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