Fear is definitely at the top of the list when it comes to the one thing that holds a large percentage of the population back from being the best version of themselves and leading the life of their dreams.

The successful know that taking calculated risks and inspired action is a key ingredient to moving from where you are now to where you want to be. This applies to life and business. However, frequently these risks are met with fear, which can freeze people in their tracks, make them question their ambitions and prevent them from taking action.

Fear is an emotion and seems to be a part of the 20th-century condition. It is completely normal and can prevent us from entering into potentially dangerous situations. Everyone experiences it from time to time. The secret is to not let fear keep you feeling trapped so you avoid taking inspired action to go after what you want in life.

Here are seven effective ways to overcome fear immediately.

1. Observe Your Body

The next time you feel fear arising, notice where you are feeling it in your body. Is it swirling around in your stomach as butterflies or is your heart pounding out of your chest? Perhaps your throat has gone dry or your legs are trembling uncontrollably.

Notice how you are holding your body. Are your shoulders slumped and are you looking down? Become aware of your posture and make a conscious choice to open it up. Put your shoulders back, breathe deeply, relax your jaw and unclench your fists. Remember the breath is key here.

Quicker, shallower breathing triggers all the other anxiety symptoms into action. So by controlling breathing, you control all the other anxiety symptoms as well. By intentionally breathing out longer than you breathe in, your body automatically relaxes despite what mischief the imagination is up to.

2. Notice Your Point Of Focus

When fear arises, it is easy to get carried away with unrealistic outcomes to scenarios you are conjuring up in your mind so that you blow them up out of all proportion. Become aware of how your imagination is running away with you and choose instead to focus on an outcome that offers you the opportunity to gain your desired results. This will shift your point of attraction so you enter into a positive flow towards a successful outcome.

3. Mind Your Language

Another essential part of the process of overcoming fear is to observe the voice of your inner critic. Notice what kind of language patterns you are accepting to be true. Choose not to trust any dialogue which is negative or defeatist. If you are telling yourself that you can’t do something because you might fail or look like a fool, simply don’t listen.

4. Set Your Goals

Having a clear vision and plan is another key step to overcoming fear. We begin to worry and over analyze situations when we don’t have detailed and well thought out plans for our life. Set extremely clear goals with a detailed plan on how to achieve those goals. After you have a well-detailed plan, take action. Taking action towards meaningful goals helps to relieve stress and gives you a huge sense of enjoyment. Fear creeps in and paralyzes us when we don’t take the time to plan our lives.

5. Face Your Fear

Do one thing every day that scares you. Living in our comfort zone is not the best way to live. Not doing the things that frighten you will increase the likelihood that your fears will become bigger – and taking over your life. It can even be something small that you choose to do, but do something daily that scares you. Step out of your comfort zone and work on becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable. When you form the habit of doing something daily that scares you, your courage grows little by little. Soon enough, the barriers that once were holding you back vanish and your potential maximizes tremendously.

Enjoy A Color Bath

If you want to take this to the next level and clear fear-based patterns from your cellular memory, try submerging your entire body in a cleansing and clearing color bath. There are various products available on the market to try and you can use various colors depending on the flavor of your fear. Color is so powerful because it can bypass the conscious mind and works effortlessly on the subconscious, clearing and transmuting patterns of fear, trauma and shock from the cells. Yellow is a good all-rounder but orange and red also have incredible results.

7. Rewire Your Brain

Reprogramming your mind is another method to overcome your fears and enhance your self-confidence so that you can enjoy the journey towards your goals. You may feel drawn to use mantras and affirmations that strengthen your personal power. Alternatively, you may be attracted to read an article or book to help you recognize your self-sabotaging beliefs or behaviors that were indoctrinated during our childhood. Be vigilant with this but remember not to judge yourself in the process. Acceptance of where you are currently at is essential.

Bravely choosing not to let fear hold you back anymore is simply the best decision to ensure future fulfillment. Remember that this process can take a long time, but taking intentional action and heading in the direction of your fears daily will give you the results you are looking for. Everything that you want in life is past your comfort zone. Don’t let fear be the reason you have not thrived.