We all have our fears, from our insignificant, pesky worries to our seemingly gargantuan horrors. Something which may seem utterly harmless to one could scare the living daylights out of another. The good news is, each and every person has the ability to be bigger than their fears. Whether its grabbing them by the horns and shoving them out of the way, or surreptitiously slipping past them by not giving them any thought at all. There are many ways to conquer fears; look no further than our tips to help you do just that.

ATTACK YOUR FEAR BIT BY BIT

It’s very hard to be able to snap your fingers and instantaneously rid yourself of a fear— but you shouldn’t have to do that! If you consciously spend a bit of time resisting your fear every time you’re faced with it, you’ll gradually find that it’s easier to be brave each time. For example, I have a huge, unsettling fear of spiders. Ironically, I share the name of the infamous spider from Charlotte’s Web. Ever since spider eggs hatched in my bedroom, I have been very and irrationally afraid. About a year ago, I decided to try to lessen my spider nightmares and take control of my fear. I started out by ridding of the tiny spiders I would find in my room, then daddy longlegs, then slightly bigger spiders. Though I still haven’t graduated to being able to kill those super large-and-in-charge suckers yet, I’m working on it.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO WILL FORCE YOU TO FACE YOUR FEARS

One of my best friends is afraid of roller coasters and generally avoids them altogether. One day, she and I, along with some other friends, decided to go to Six Flags. Though she was very scared to go on the big roller coasters, she didn’t want to be the only one who didn’t go with the group— plus, she saw that all of us weren’t the slightest bit worried about the roller coasters. We helped her face her fear, and she had a great time. Though it’s important to respect others’ fears, it’s okay to challenge them a bit and push them out of their comfort zone.

WHATEVER YOU’RE IMAGINING WON’T HAPPEN

This one’s pretty self-explanatory. All sorts of thoughts run through our head when we are forced to corner our fears. I imagine the spider running down my arm. My best friend imagines the roller coaster malfunctioning. Someone may imagine falling off a high cliff while driving through the mountains. Another imagines their speech will go terribly, and everyone will laugh at or pity them. This clown will attack you. That needle will stab you. The plane you’re flying in will crash. The chances of those things happening are incredibly low but seem entirely plausible when you’re afraid. Don’t let yourself imagine those things! Don’t think— be stronger than that.

CHANNEL YOUR INNER HEROINE

When I’m in a scary situation, I often like to pretend I’m someone else who I admire, fictional or real. I’m Elizabeth Bennet, unafraid to challenge those who disagree with her. I’m Anne Shirley, choosing to focus on life’s beautiful things rather than the frightening ones. I’m Malala Yousafzai, fighting for what is right. I’ll use my admiration for them to better myself.  It sounds a bit silly, but it’s actually incredibly effective.

Remember, you are in control of your own mind! Don’t let it mess with you; try to realize that those thoughts insignificant, nonsensical, and not real— and you are better than that.

Tell us how you conquered your fears in the comments below! Don’t forget to download Hey! VINA if you need someone to help you challenge your worries. 

(Featured image via Elite Daily)