Overcoming Fear with Confidence

This time of year, we're watching scary movies and talking about spooky things. It’s also a time when fear-based news bleeds out of the political landscape. That fear is dominating our social feeds, news channels and thoughts. Now I do not want to go on a rant about “fake news” or how the media bombards us with negativity. My goal is to talk about how we can build the confidence and mindset to keep that negativity from driving us into fear.

Fear is a basic emotion we all experience. It’s essential for our survival, alerting us to potential threats. But I also believe we can train our minds to handle fear differently. A lot of this comes down to understanding what we can control versus what’s out of our hands. Our brains process fear by weighing probabilities, making decisions, and drawing on past experiences. The media and other influencers try to skew those probabilities, pushing their view or agenda by creating fear and hoping to sway your beliefs.

One of my favorite thought processes comes from the bestselling author Jon Acuff . He suggests asking three questions: Is what you're hearing true? Is it kind? Is it helpful? This idea, from his book Soundtracks , resonates with me because fear often arises when we believe something that isn’t true. We may accept it without fully examining the facts, and that unexamined fear can affect both ourselves and the people we care about. But why do we let it have that power over us?

I believe it boils down to confidence. When we don’t have a strong belief system or we lack confidence in our own understanding, it’s easier to let others sway us without fully fact-checking or filtering what we let sink in. For example, let’s say you’ve been working out, meal-planning, and you’re starting to see results. When Halloween candy comes around, you’re more likely to pass on it because you’re confident in your progress. You’ve got a plan, and it’s working. But if you lack that confidence or don’t have a plan, you might tell yourself, “One piece won’t hurt,” and give in. It’s a simple comparison, but it shows how belief systems and confidence can shape how we respond to fear.

Here are a couple of ways to help manage your mind when it comes to fear:

• Know that fear is healthy – Fear is part of our hardwiring and serves a purpose. It helps us avoid danger.
• Fear isn’t a sign of weakness – It’s just a signal letting us know that something is going on that we need to pay attention to. We can leverage fear to make good, informed decisions.
• Confidence is the antidote to fear – When you believe in what you’re doing, it’s easier to stay disciplined and not let fear derail you.
• Preparation is the key to confidence – Having a plan, taking action, and being consistent with your actions all help build the confidence to face challenges head-on.

Remember, everything you hear or read is trying to influence you—including my writing right now. You can see more of my articles at www.mike.heffner.com . My hope is that it helps you become more aware of how others might be trying to shape your thoughts, and that it encourages you to pause, reflect, and make sure the information you let in is true and beneficial to your success.