<p><span>In this article you will learn the following</span><br></p><p>-<b data-redactor-tag="b">Fear of unknown, Fear of Uncertainty, Fear of Change, Fear of Future, Xenophobia</b> </p><p>-<b data-redactor-tag="b">50 Tips on How to overcome your fear of the unknown</b></p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">If you want to live your life to the fullest</b> [on sustainable basis] - <b data-redactor-tag="b">you have to take risks, stick your neck out, make blunders, make massive mistakes and fail big-time - and then bounce back</b> - all the while taking actions towards your massive and larger than life goals. </p><p>All the great legends have become <b data-redactor-tag="b">great by bouncing back from the setbacks that they faced in their lives plus by following the above law of nature for phenomenal growth and success.</b></p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Majority of us don't even grow to the minimum levels of our potential </b>- because we let our fear of the unknown rule our lives.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">We fail to take actions - when it was most essential for creating a massive transformation in our life and which we could have</b> as it was within our area of influence.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Among many medically recognized fears there is a fear - referred to as the fear of unknown and uncertain</b> - which in its extreme form becomes a phobia called xenophobia.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Fear of unknown and uncertainties - does not allow us to take risks by taking actions beyond our comfort zones.</b></p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Xenophobic</b> - have irrational thoughts, beliefs and fear about strange and unfamiliar people and situations.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Xenophobic generally develop - mistrust, extreme-dislike or hatred towards people of different cultures, religions, skin-colors and maybe even of different geographies</b> [and may commit violence, crime and atrocities when in group, and when supported by mobs and also when in power].</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Lack of predictability and control can be the contributing factors which trigger your fears and anxieties</b>. </p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Your levels of fear can also be situational and based on the personality traits </b>like your temperament, your past experiences and your ability to adapt and cope.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Some mental health disorders puts you at greater risk of experiencing fear of the unknown like</b> - Anxiety disorders (generalized, social, health related, separation etc.) Include, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, eating disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse disorders etc.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Most of our fears gets ingrained [anytime] from our infancy to early adulthood.</b></p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Why we acquire various fears - well the likely causes could be extremely negative and traumatic experiences. Our genetics and brain chemistry too have a major role in building our complex phobias</b>.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Many of us - would rather maintain the status-quo with all its negative consequences</b> - and avoid changes, discomfort, feeling negative emotions and fears. </p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">People with fear of unknown are afraid of trying new ideas</b> - they are the people who keep doing the same thing the same way all the time - yet expect miracles.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">People with fear of unknown - miss the joy of discovering</b> the solution and their capabilities and solving the beautiful mysteries of their life.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Then there is fear which is sort of related with the fear of unknown and is known as anticipatory fear</b> - that is living in fear of the future - dreading the future. This too can be quite debilitating in extreme cases.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Then you have a fear of change [which is also a fear of unknown] - 9 signs of fear of change </b></p> <ul><li>1.You are unhappy and feel suffocated and stuck - yet are unable to create enough resolve and enthusiasm to take the required actions</li> <li>2.You stay in a dead, toxic or violent relationship - although you want it to end</li> <li>3.You stay in the job - although it is neither satisfying nor paying nor have any growth opportunities</li> <li>4.You feel very anxious to create a change in your routine - and if you are forced to change it - you try to come back to it as soon as you can</li> <li>5.You have become asocial - you avoid socializing and mixing with people</li> <li>6.Even the positive events like going to stage to get a prize unnerves you</li> <li>7.You just can't accept changes that happening in your life and in the world around you</li> <li>8.You don't feel like taking actions - even those which are within your area of control but new</li> <li>9.You find major changes terrifying</li></ul> <p><b data-redactor-tag="b">50 Tips on How to overcome your fear of the unknown</b> given randomly [also read my article how to make your fear - fear you - along with other relevant topics - among the 3000+ blogs, articles and answers in my two websites as well my Quora answers] - almost all the following tips have detailed do-it-yourself articles </p> <ul><li>1.Don't get into what-if self-destructive trap</li> <li>2.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Stop assuming bad things will happen just because an outcome is uncertain</b> - instead ask what is the likelihood of negative outcomes and how can you deal with these</li> <li>3.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Identify your uncertainty triggers</b> -recognize when you feel the need for certainty-allow yourself to feel the uncertainty -let go -shift your attention - focus on the present - get moving - relax </li> <li>4.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Understand that uncertainty, disruption and fast-changes are the only certainty there is</b> - and that knowing how to live with insecurity could be the only security</li> <li>5.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Instead of focusing on expectations - start creating plans of action on how you will accomplish your goals and objectives -prepare for different possibilities</b> - take actions being confident about your coping and adapting skills - find the inner locus of control - understand that the media isn't your friend - don't believe everything you hear or see - find meaning in the chaos</li> <li>6.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Stop avoiding, ignoring and running-away from your fears, anxieties and problems</b> - instead learn to face these - because avoidance will cause more damaging effects in long-term</li> <li>7.Build your tolerance -follow a schedule</li> <li>8.Resolve to make your life meaningful, powerful and purposeful </li> <li>9.Commit to make every minute of your life count </li> <li>10.Understand your fear -<b data-redactor-tag="b">identify all your fears - identify which of them are realistic and which of these are based on</b> your past experiences and failures plus which of these are irrational </li> <li>11.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Create action-steps and solutions which can help you deal with eventualities, contingencies and disruptions</b> that may come up in which you can cope with the hurdles you may face</li> <li>12.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Identify which of your fears are based on your false perceptions, wrong beliefs or your own deep-rooted insecurities</b> [as per my various articles on overcoming emotional insecurities create solutions that works for you]</li> <li>13.Question your fear and brainstorm ways to minimize risk in case your fear happens</li> <li>14.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Understand that your emotional system is like your immune system - if you have not been exposed to any germs its fighting ability will be very poor</b> - therefore become comfortable in feeling your most uncomfortable feelings and then learn to manage by finding ways to get rid of root-causes</li> <li>15.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Challenge your fears and anxieties by asking yourself - whether there are solid evidence to support your this fear</b> - look back in your life and ask whether you successfully and effectively dealt with similar fears in your past - if yes what all you did and what was the situation</li> <li>16.Understand and accept that path of growth towards success - will have big mistakes and failures invariably </li> <li>17.Find all the solutions, supports and ways - that will help you deal with and come out of failures and mistakes</li> <li>18.Proactively seek challenging tasks - so as to make you comfortable in unknown and uncertain</li> <li>19.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Become a great observer and identifier of emerging trends and forthcoming changes</b> - in your business, professional, social, customer, job, personal life, lifestyle, physical-mental-emotional health as well as in finances</li> <li>20.Stop resisting change - proactively change before the change forces you to change</li> <li>21.Develop your skills, knowledge, expertise and exposure to make you on the top of the disruptions that is taking place</li> <li>22.<b data-redactor-tag="b">If you can make your rate of learning faster than the change that is taking place in your life and around you</b> - then your fear stress and anxieties all will reduce to manageable </li> <li>23.Break the solutions into manageable and non-threatening parts</li> <li>24.Create your own techniques to tackle any fear or anxiety - meditation, relaxing-yoga postures and practicing positive thinking</li> <li>25.Work on becoming comfortable with who you are</li> <li>26.Work on your building your self-esteem, self-confidence, self-pride</li> <li>27.Learn new coping skills, remembering past successes, </li> <li>28.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Practice accepting uncertainty and unknowns and know what is within your area of control</b> - start operating from you area of influence to progressively increase your power of control</li> <li>29.Learn and manage your emotions effectively - by practicing practical stress control measures</li> <li>30.Make self-care a priority and schedule social and leisure time</li> <li>31.Engage in pleasure and enjoyable activities with your family and friends</li> <li>32.Create and nurture your support group and encourage yourself and others to seek help and support from other group members who are struggling</li> <li>33.Make lifestyle changes like exercising regularly, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and avoiding stimulants that trigger anxiety</li> <li>34.Using visualization to create solutions and future-pacing it to give you confidence to take actions</li> <li>35.Learn and practice - not to dwell on things that are beyond your control - instead focus on the things you can control </li> <li>36.Avoid news channels and your exposure mindless negativity</li> <li>37.Understand that having courage is not having any fear - but - taking steps to take actions in spite of your having fears</li> <li>38.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Convert your fear to curiosity of finding solution to turn it into advantage for you as well as others</b> to push your boundaries, to leap out of your comfort zones</li> <li>39.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Learn to be aware of say when you are getting angry - instead of ignoring it</b> - this will inevitably lead to your exploding at the most inappropriate time</li> <li>40.Ignoring when you are feeling resentful about someone - only will create relationship break - instead choose to talk it out</li> <li>41.Create healthy and disciplined habits and routines</li> <li>42.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Use uncertainty to create something of value to yourself</b> as well as others by using and developing your creative muscles</li> <li>43.Know what you know—and what you don't - then learn what is essential for you to grow and succeed and be less anxious</li> <li>44.Accept what you can't control</li> <li>45.Focus only on what matters to you and your loved ones in long term</li> <li>46.Focus on progressive attainment of excellence but avoid being a perfectionist</li> <li>47.Work on finding solutions instead of dwelling on problems</li> <li>48.Train to trust your gut-feelings</li> <li>49.Create contingency plans for worst case scenarios</li> <li>50.Take a couple of minutes to browse a funny sitcom you enjoy or a comedy movie or show - which is also mentally stimulating</li></ul><div><br></div><p>#fearofchange, #fearofunknown, #fearofuncertainity, #fearoffuture, #anticipatoryfear, #howfearofunknowndisablesyou, #whatisfearofunknown, #howtoovercomeyourfearofunknown, #managinguncertainty, #xenophobia, #ourfears</p>