essay about overcoming your fears

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Turning Fear into Confidence—A Personal Essay

October 14, 2020

Facing obstacles throughout your life is inevitable, and the obstacles you overcome can define who you are as a person. Not only will this build character and self-confidence, it will show others how strong you remained and inspire them to overcome their own challenges.

But overcoming obstacles is no simple task. Most obstacles are incredibly hard and testing. Yet, by overcoming them, you will come to understand why they are important. The significance of overcoming obstacles in life is to make you more grounded, courageous, and wise. For me, one of these life-altering obstacles emerged during my undergraduate years.

I had a serious fear of public speaking. There were times where I would struggle with presentations and in-class discussions. When these sessions would take place, my fear built up in a pressure cooker of discouragement and convulsive anguish. I felt humiliated before my teachers, partners, and most of all, my close friends. I soon realized, however, that the same people who seemed to be the source of my fear became my lifeline, their inspirational words filling my mind and heart with positive thoughts.

Seeing my struggles, my peers tried to build me up, to increase my confidence in myself and convince me that anything, including overcoming my fear of public speaking, could be accomplished with enough enthusiasm and belief in oneself.

The obstacles we face in life can distort how we see ourselves and cripple our ability to face our fears. By facing these conflicts head on, though, we can completely flip their effect on us, transforming them into experiences that strengthen our resilience and push the boundaries of what we think is possible to achieve.

Taking everything into account everything I’ve learned from this experience and many others like it that I’ve encountered in my life, it’s clear that obstacles are impossible to avoid, and when you do encounter them, you must view them as learning opportunities. You might just surprise yourself at how easily you overcome them.

This post was written by Duke TIP’s outgoing Marketing & Communications intern, Christina Gordon. Christina graduated from North Carolina Central University in the spring of 2020.

About Duke TIP

The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) is a nonprofit organization that has served over three million academically talented students in grades 4–12 since it was founded in 1980. Collaborating with educators and parents, TIP helps gifted students assess the extent of their academic abilities with above-grade-level testing, recognizes them for their achievements, and provides them with a variety of enrichment benefits as well as accelerated face-to-face and online educational programs.

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Overcoming Fear Essay

Table of Contents

Introduction on Overcoming Fear Essay

Fear is an emotion that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. It can manifest in various forms, such as anxiety, phobia, and panic attacks. Fear can hold us back from pursuing our dreams, taking risks, and experiencing new things. It is essential to learn how to overcome fear to achieve success and fulfillment in life. This essay will explore the different ways to overcome fear, including facing your fears, changing your mindset, seeking support, and using relaxation techniques, with the potential aid of essay writing help to further understand and articulate these methods effectively.

Facing Your Fears

The most effective way to overcome fear is to face it head-on. It may seem daunting, but confronting your fears can help you gain control over them. For instance, if you have a fear of public speaking, you could start by speaking in front of a small audience, such as friends or family members. Gradually increase the audience size until you feel comfortable speaking in front of a larger group. Similarly, if you have a fear of heights, you could try bungee jumping or skydiving to confront your fear.

Facing your fears can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding. It can help you build confidence, self-esteem, and resilience. Moreover, it can expand your comfort zone and open up new opportunities. For example, if you overcome your fear of public speaking, you may be able to advance in your career, deliver more effective presentations, and communicate more confidently with others.

Changing Your Mindset

Another way to overcome fear is to change your mindset. Fear is often the result of negative thinking patterns, such as catastrophizing, black-and-white thinking, and mind-reading. These patterns can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, where you believe the worst-case scenario will happen, and you act accordingly, which reinforces your fear.

To change your mindset, you need to challenge your negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. For example, if you have a fear of failure, you could challenge the thought that “I will never succeed” by asking yourself, “What evidence do I have to support this thought?” You may realize that you have succeeded in the past and that failure is a natural part of the learning process.

Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones can help you feel more optimistic, hopeful, and confident. It can also help you develop a growth mindset, where you view failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. This mindset can help you overcome fear and achieve your goals.

Seeking Support

Overcoming fear can be challenging, and you may need support from others. Seeking support from friends, family members, or a therapist can help you cope with your fears and develop effective strategies to overcome them.

Talking to someone who understands your fears can provide a sense of validation and empathy. Moreover, they may offer practical advice, such as relaxation techniques or exposure therapy, that can help you overcome your fears. For example, if you have a fear of flying, a therapist may suggest exposure therapy, where you gradually expose yourself to flying-related stimuli until you feel more comfortable flying.

Using Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques can help you manage your fear and anxiety. These techniques can include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and yoga. They can help you reduce physical tension and calm your mind, which can help you feel more relaxed and less fearful.

Deep breathing involves taking slow, deep breaths through your nose and exhaling slowly through your mouth. This technique can help you reduce your heart rate and blood pressure, which can help you feel more relaxed.

Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in your body. This technique can help you release physical tension and reduce anxiety.

Meditation involves focusing your attention on your breath or a specific object or mantra. This technique can help you clear your mind and reduce stress and anxiety.

Yoga involvesstretching and holding poses while focusing on your breath. This technique can help you improve your flexibility, balance, and strength while reducing stress and anxiety.

Using relaxation techniques can help you manage your fear and anxiety in the moment, but it may not be enough to overcome your fear in the long term. However, combining relaxation techniques with other strategies, such as facing your fears, changing your mindset, and seeking support, can be more effective.

Examples Of Overcoming Fear

Many people have overcome their fears and achieved success in their personal and professional lives. For example, J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, overcame her fear of failure and rejection by persevering through multiple rejections from publishers before finding success. Similarly, Oprah Winfrey overcame her fear of public speaking by facing her fears and becoming one of the most successful and influential media personalities in the world.

Athletes also frequently overcome fear to achieve success. For instance, Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnasts in history, has spoken about her fear of the “twisties,” a condition where gymnasts lose their spatial awareness mid-air. Despite experiencing the twisties during the 2021 Olympics, Biles returned to competition and won a bronze medal on the balance beam.

Why Is Overcoming Fear Important In Life?

Overcoming fear is important in life for several reasons. Firstly, fear can hold us back from pursuing our goals and dreams. For example, if someone has a fear of public speaking, they may avoid giving presentations or speaking in front of groups, limiting their opportunities for career advancement or personal growth. Overcoming this fear can help them unlock their full potential and achieve their goals.

Secondly, fear can lead to anxiety, stress, and other negative emotions that can affect our mental and physical health. Overcoming fear can help us reduce these negative emotions and improve our overall well-being.

Thirdly, fear can prevent us from experiencing new things and taking risks. Overcoming fear can help us expand our comfort zones and try new things that can lead to personal growth and self-discovery.

Finally, overcoming fear can help us build resilience and self-confidence. By facing and overcoming our fears, we can develop a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem that can help us tackle other challenges in life with greater confidence.

In summary, overcoming fear is essential for personal growth, achieving our goals, and improving our mental and physical well-being. By facing our fears and developing effective strategies to overcome them, we can unlock our full potential and lead more fulfilling lives.

What Can We Learn From Overcoming Fear?

Overcoming fear can teach us many valuable lessons that can help us in various aspects of our lives. Here are some of the key lessons we can learn from overcoming fear:

Courage and resilience:  Overcoming fear requires courage and resilience. By facing our fears and persevering through the discomfort and uncertainty, we can develop a stronger sense of these qualities, which can help us tackle other challenges in life.

Self-awareness:  Overcoming fear requires us to be aware of our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Through this process, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, our triggers, and our coping mechanisms, which can help us manage future fears and challenges more effectively.

Growth mindset:  Overcoming fear requires a growth mindset, which is the belief that we can learn and grow from our experiences, even when they are uncomfortable or challenging. This mindset can help us approach future challenges with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn and adapt.

Empathy:  Overcoming fear can also help us develop empathy for others who are facing their own fears and challenges. Through our own experiences, we can better understand and relate to others who are struggling, and offer support and encouragement.

Gratitude:  Overcoming fear can also teach us to appreciate the positive aspects of our lives and the opportunities we have to grow and learn. By focusing on the positive outcomes of our efforts, we can develop a sense of gratitude that can help us maintain a positive outlook and cope with future challenges.

In summary, overcoming fear can teach us valuable lessons about courage, resilience, self-awareness, growth mindset, empathy, and gratitude. By applying these lessons to other areas of our lives, we can become more resilient, adaptable, and empathetic individuals.

In conclusion, fear is a common emotion that can hold us back from pursuing our goals and experiencing new things. However, there are many ways to overcome fear, including facing your fears, changing your mindset, seeking support, and using relaxation techniques. Overcoming fear can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding, helping you build confidence, resilience, and self-esteem. With persistence and determination, anyone can overcome their fears and achieve success in their personal and professional lives.

List Of Few Topics On Overcoming Fear Essay

• The role of mindfulness in conquering fear
• How to overcome a fear of public speaking
• The benefits of facing your fears head-on
• The psychological origins of phobias and how to overcome them
• Overcoming the fear of failure
• The power of positive thinking in overcoming fear
• The role of therapy in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of heights
• The role of physical activity in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of flying
• The importance of support from loved ones in overcoming fear
• The role of visualization in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of the dark
• The role of self-affirmation in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of needles or injections
• The role of hypnotherapy in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of water
• The role of exposure therapy in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of snakes or other animals
• The role of cognitive-behavioral therapy in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of clowns or other phobias
• The role of neurolinguistic programming in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of public transportation
• The role of meditation in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of speaking in front of large groups
• The role of affirmations in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of the unknown
• The role of goal-setting in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of heights or bridges
• How to overcome a fear of the ocean or deep water

Cooper Robinson

Hi, I am Cooper Robinson. I am a full-time academic writer with expertise in essay writing. Having completed my Master's degree, I worked as an English professor. For six long years, I had been reading hundreds of essays with repetitive content, zero creativity, and full of copied facts. Listing Now, I am on a mission to make all those dull essays sparkle, so that students do not miss out on top grades. I'veI've written a couple of guest posts on essay writing for prominent academic writing sites. Apart from English essay writing, I love coffee and sushi. When I am not making essay warriors out of students, I am probably off to some fishing or biking adventure. 

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How Do You Overcome Your Fears?

Amanda Gorman describes how she conquered her fears to deliver her stunning poem at last year’s presidential inauguration. What do you do to deal with your doubts?

By Jeremy Engle

Did you watch Amanda Gorman read her poem “The Hill We Climb” at President Biden’s inauguration last January? If so, what was your reaction? What did her words and delivery make you think or feel?

Her performance was lauded as much for the beauty of her words as it was for the then-23-year old’s composure on the big stage. Would you be surprised to learn that Ms. Gorman was so filled with fear that she had almost declined her invitation to perform that day?

What kinds of activities fill you with dread? Have you ever been overwhelmed with fear and anxiety before a big performance, presentation or event? How did you respond?

In “ Why I Almost Didn’t Read My Poem at the Inauguration ,” Ms. Gorman describes how she was able to overcome her fears and deliver a powerful and memorable oration:

It’s told like this: Amanda Gorman performed at the inauguration and the rest is history. The truth is I almost declined to be the inaugural poet. Why? I was terrified. I was scared of failing my people, my poetry. But I was also terrified on a physical level. Covid was still raging, and my age group couldn’t get vaccinated yet. Just a few weeks before, domestic terrorists assaulted the U.S. Capitol, the very steps where I would recite. I didn’t know then that I’d become famous, but I did know at the inauguration I was going to become highly visible — which is a very dangerous thing to be in America, especially if you’re Black and outspoken and have no Secret Service. It didn’t help that I was getting DMs from friends telling me not-so-jokingly to buy a bulletproof vest. My mom had us crouch in our living room so that she could practice shielding my body from bullets. A loved one warned me to “be ready to die” if I went to the Capitol building, telling me, “It’s just not worth it.” I had insomnia and nightmares, barely ate or drank for days. I finally wrote to some close friends and family, telling them that I was most likely going to pull out of the ceremony. I got some texts praising the Lord. I got called pathologically insane. But I knew only I could answer the question for myself: Was this poem worth it? The night before I was to give the Inaugural Committee my final decision felt like the longest of my life. My neighborhood was eerily quiet in that early morning dark, though I strained my ears for noise to distract me from the choice that lay ahead. It felt like my little world stood still. And then it struck me: Maybe being brave enough doesn’t mean lessening my fear, but listening to it. I closed my eyes in bed and let myself utter all the leviathans that scared me, both monstrous and minuscule. What stood out most of all was the worry that I’d spend the rest of my life wondering what this poem could have achieved. There was only one way to find out. By the time the sun rose I knew one thing for sure: I was going to be the 2021 inaugural poet. I can’t say I was completely confident in my choice, but I was completely committed to it.

Students, read the entire article and then tell us:

When was a time when you were able to overcome your fears or doubts? What did you have to do, why did it fill you with anxiety and from where did you draw your strength to succeed?

What strategies have you used to deal with your worries or dread? Do you state your fears out loud or recite mantras, like Ms. Gorman? How effective have these approaches been? What advice would you give others based on your own experiences?

Have your fears ever kept you from doing something you wanted to do, something important? How did you feel turning down the opportunity? What might you do differently now that you have read the article?

What is your reaction to the essay? Are you surprised to learn that a successful poet was filled with terror before a big performance? Do the fears and self-doubts Ms. Gorman described in her essay resonate with your own experiences?

Ms. Gorman writes:

Yet fear can be love trying its best in the dark. So do not fear your fear. Own it. Free it. This isn’t a liberation that I or anyone can give you — it’s a power you must look for, learn, love, lead and locate for yourself.

What do you think of this advice? Do you agree you should not fear your fear, but own it?

Want more writing prompts? You can find all of our questions in our Student Opinion column . Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Jeremy Engle joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2018 after spending more than 20 years as a classroom humanities and documentary-making teacher, professional developer and curriculum designer working with students and teachers across the country. More about Jeremy Engle

Fear: Definition, Effects, and Overcoming Essay

Effects of fear, how to overcome fear.

Webster’s dictionary defines fear as “an unpleasant, sometimes strong emotion caused by an anticipation or awareness of danger” or “anxious concern” Fear is a feeling that causes agitation and anxiety mostly caused by presence or imminence of danger. It is a state or condition marked by feeling of agitation or anxiety. It can also be described as a feeling of disquiet. Fear is an abstract concept and may have different meanings. Holder (2007) adds that fear is more pervasive when there is lack of faith that we have greater significance in the universe than what we own or how others perceive us.

Fear is manifested in many ways in human beings. It may manifest as showing signs of withdrawing or by cowering. But the most profound manifestation of fear is anger and hatred. People acts out their insecurity as anger which shows that they are the most fearful people.

Effects of fear have been documented in many studies. Fear has been documented to case mind paralyses, heart attacks and closure of fallopian tube due to fear of pain during child birth (Jim Rohn, 2004), describes fear, indifference, indecision, doubt, worry and timidness as the five greatest enemies within us which can destroy our lives completely. Fear may manifest itself in physical short term effects or affect your whole life. It will affect both he physiology of the body and the brain. Fear generates stress which manifests itself physically in many signs physically and emotionally. It causes judgmental errors and affects our reasoning that most of time when we are in a fearful situation; we tend to take the wrong action.

According to Sidney B., (1988), fear is a great paralyzer. It will keep you from making positive changes in your life and thus retard your recovery from depression. He continues to argue that fear persuades you to set easier goals and do less than your capability. It will also cause internal defense system fooling you that you have good reasons not to change. Fear of failure reduces the available alternatives you can pursue because you cannot stand by the outcome of what you do. You always feel that you cannot succeed in anything you try. It will keep you away from seeking help because you don’t want others to see you as a failure. Fear has been identified by psychologist as what causes people to give up when they are one step short to their goal. It will keep you stuck or make you develop unhealthy habits and behavior problems. Most of all fear keeps many people from taking risks.

Rim Rohn, (2004), argues that we are not born with courage, neither are we born with fear. He argues that some of our fears are brought on by our own experiences by what someone has told us or what we read in papers and books. Sri Swami Sivananda, (2007), describes fear as an illusion that cannot live. He suggests that to overcome fear we should always feel the presence of a Supreme Being watching us, by meditating and developing positive thoughts all the time. We should devote ourselves to eradicating fear. Since we have seen that fear is developed within our minds, it can also be eradicated within our mind and hence it is just a matter of reconditioning our minds that will help us overcome fear. It is also suggesting that we should share with others our fears. In this way they will help us find solutions to the cause of fears. President Roosevelt said, “We have nothing to fear but the fear itself” hence fearing fear starts and ends with us.

Holder P. (2007): FEAR… YOUR WORST ENEMY . Web.

Rohn, J., (2004). Build courage to face the enemies within. Web.

Sidney S., (1998). Getting Unstuck: Breaking through Your Barriers to Change . Web.

Sri Sivanand, S. (2007). The Divine Life Society: How to overcome fear. Web.

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How to Write the “Overcoming Challenges” Essay + Examples

What’s covered:.

• What is the Overcoming Challenges Essay?
• Real Overcoming Challenges Essay Prompts
• How to Choose a Topic
• Writing Tips

Overcoming Challenges Essay Examples

• Where to Get Your Essay Edited

While any college essay can be intimidating, the Overcoming Challenges prompt often worries students the most. Those students who’ve been lucky enough not to experience trauma tend to assume they have nothing worth saying. On the other hand, students who’ve overcome larger obstacles may be hesitant to talk about them.

Regardless of your particular circumstances, there are steps you can take to make the essay writing process simpler. Here are our top tips for writing the overcoming challenges essay successfully.

What is the “Overcoming Challenges” Essay?

The overcoming challenges prompt shows up frequently in both main application essays (like the Common App) and supplemental essays. Because supplemental essays allow students to provide schools with additional information, applicants should be sure that the subject matter they choose to write about differs from what’s in their main essay.

Students often assume the overcoming challenges essay requires them to detail past traumas. While you can certainly write about an experience that’s had a profound effect on your life, it’s important to remember that colleges aren’t evaluating students based on the seriousness of the obstacle they overcame.

On the contrary, the goal of this essay is to show admissions officers that you have the intelligence and fortitude to handle any challenges that come your way. After all, college serves as an introduction to adult life, and schools want to know that the students they admit are up to the task. 

Real “Overcoming Challenges” Essay Prompts

To help you understand what the “Overcoming Challenges” essay looks like, here are a couple sample prompts.

Currently, the Common Application asks students to answer the following prompt in 650 words or less:

“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

For the past several years, MIT has prompted students to write 200 to 250 words on the following:

“Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?”

In both cases, the prompts explicitly ask for your response to the challenge. The event itself isn’t as important as how it pushed you to grow.

How to Choose a Topic for an Essay on Overcoming Challenges

When it comes to finding the best topic for your overcoming challenges essays, there’s no right answer. The word “challenge” is ambiguous and could be used to reference a wide range of situations from prevailing over a bully to getting over your lifelong stage fright to appear in a school musical. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when selecting an essay subject.

1. Avoid trivial or common topics

While there aren’t many hard-and-fast rules for choosing an essay topic, students should avoid overdone topics.

These include:

• Working hard in a challenging class
• Overcoming a sports injury
• Moving schools or immigrating to the US
• Tragedy (divorce, death, abuse)

Admissions officers have read numerous essays on the subject, so it’s harder for you to stand out (see our full list of cliché college essay topics to avoid ). If events like these were truly formative to you, you can still choose to write about them, but you’ll need to be as personal as possible. 

It’s also ideal if you have a less traditional storyline for a cliché topic; for example, if your sports injury led you to discover a new passion, that would be a more unique story than detailing how you overcame your injury and got back in the game.

Similarly, students may not want to write about an obstacle that admissions committees could perceive as low stakes, such as getting a B on a test, or getting into a small fight with a friend. The goal of this essay is to illustrate how you respond to adversity, so the topic you pick should’ve been at least impactful on your personal growth.

2. Pick challenges that demonstrate qualities you want to highlight

Students often mistakenly assume they need to have experienced exceptional circumstances like poverty, an abusive parent, or cancer to write a good essay. The truth is that the best topics will allow you to highlight specific personal qualities and share more about who you are. The essay should be less about the challenge itself, and more about how you responded to it.

Ask yourself what personality traits you want to emphasize, and see what’s missing in your application. Maybe you want to highlight your adaptability, for example, but that isn’t clearly expressed in your application. In this case, you might write about a challenge that put your adaptability to the test, or shaped you to become more adaptable.

Here are some examples of good topics we’ve seen over the years:

• Not having a coach for a sports team and becoming one yourself
• Helping a parent through a serious health issue
• Trying to get the school track dedicated to a coach
• Having to switch your Model UN position last-minute

Tips for Writing an Essay About Overcoming Challenges

Once you’ve selected a topic for your essays, it’s time to sit down and write. For best results, make sure your essay focuses on your efforts to tackle an obstacle rather than the problem itself. Additionally, you could avoid essay writing pitfalls by doing the following:

1. Choose an original essay structure

If you want your overcoming challenges essay to attract attention, aim to break away from more traditional structures. Most of these essays start by describing an unsuccessful attempt at a goal and then explain the steps the writer took to master the challenge. 

You can stand out by choosing a challenge you’re still working on overcoming, or focus on a mental or emotional challenge that spans multiple activities or events. For example, you might discuss your fear of public speaking and how that impacted your ability to coach your brother’s Little League team and run for Student Council. 

You can also choose a challenge that can be narrated in the moment, such as being put on the spot to teach a yoga class. These challenges can make particularly engaging essays, as you get to experience the writer’s thoughts and emotions as they unfold.

Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to have succeeded in your goal for this essay. Maybe you ran for an election and lost, or maybe you proposed a measure to the school board that wasn’t passed. It’s still possible to write a strong essay about topics like these as long as you focus on your personal growth. In fact, these may make for even stronger essays since they are more unconventional topics.

2. Focus on the internal

When writing about past experiences, you may be tempted to spend too much time describing specific people and events. With an Overcoming Challenges essay though, the goal is to focus on your thoughts and feelings.

For example, rather than detail all the steps you took to become a better public speaker, use the majority of your essay to describe your mental state as you embarked on the journey to achieving your goals. Were you excited, scared, anxious, or hopeful? Don’t be afraid to let the reader in on your innermost emotions and thoughts during this process.

3. Share what you learned 

An Overcoming Challenges essay should leave the reader with a clear understanding of what you learned on your journey, be it physical, mental, or emotional. There’s no need to explicitly say “this experience taught me X,” but your essay should at least implicitly share any lessons you learned. This can be done through your actions and in-the-moment reflections. Remember that the goal is to show admissions committees why your experiences make you a great candidate for admission. 

Was I no longer the beloved daughter of nature, whisperer of trees? Knee-high rubber boots, camouflage, bug spray—I wore the g arb and perfume of a proud wild woman, yet there I was, hunched over the pathetic pile of stubborn sticks, utterly stumped, on the verge of tears. As a child, I had considered myself a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free. I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms. Yet here I was, ten years later, incapable of performing the most fundamental outdoor task: I could not, for the life of me, start a fire. 

Furiously I rubbed the twigs together—rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers. No smoke. The twigs were too young, too sticky-green; I tossed them away with a shower of curses, and began tearing through the underbrush in search of a more flammable collection. My efforts were fruitless. Livid, I bit a rejected twig, determined to prove that the forest had spurned me, offering only young, wet bones that would never burn. But the wood cracked like carrots between my teeth—old, brittle, and bitter. Roaring and nursing my aching palms, I retreated to the tent, where I sulked and awaited the jeers of my family. 

Rattling their empty worm cans and reeking of fat fish, my brother and cousins swaggered into the campsite. Immediately, they noticed the minor stick massacre by the fire pit and called to me, their deep voices already sharp with contempt. 

“Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” they taunted. “Having some trouble?” They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame. 

In the tent, I pondered my failure. Was I so dainty? Was I that incapable? I thought of my hands, how calloused and capable they had been, how tender and smooth they had become. It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive. And I’d gotten glasses, having grown horrifically nearsighted; long nights of dim lighting and thick books had done this. I couldn’t remember the last time I had lain down on a hill, barefaced, and seen the stars without having to squint. Crawling along the edge of the tent, a spider confirmed my transformation—he disgusted me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to squash him. 

Yet, I realized I hadn’t really changed—I had only shifted perspective. I still eagerly explored new worlds, but through poems and prose rather than pastures and puddles. I’d grown to prefer the boom of a bass over that of a bullfrog, learned to coax a different kind of fire from wood, having developed a burn for writing rhymes and scrawling hypotheses. 

That night, I stayed up late with my journal and wrote about the spider I had decided not to kill. I had tolerated him just barely, only shrieking when he jumped—it helped to watch him decorate the corners of the tent with his delicate webs, knowing that he couldn’t start fires, either. When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.

This essay is an excellent example because the writer turns an everyday challenge—starting a fire—into an exploration of her identity. The writer was once “a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes,” but has since traded her love of the outdoors for a love of music, writing, and reading. 

The story begins in media res , or in the middle of the action, allowing readers to feel as if we’re there with the writer. One of the essay’s biggest strengths is its use of imagery. We can easily visualize the writer’s childhood and the present day. For instance, she states that she “rubbed and rubbed [the twigs] until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers.”

The writing has an extremely literary quality, particularly with its wordplay. The writer reappropriates words and meanings, and even appeals to the senses: “My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame.” She later uses a parallelism to cleverly juxtapose her changed interests: “instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano.”

One of the essay’s main areas of improvement is its overemphasis on the “story” and lack of emphasis on the reflection. The second to last paragraph about changing perspective is crucial to the essay, as it ties the anecdote to larger lessons in the writer’s life. She states that she hasn’t changed, but has only shifted perspective. Yet, we don’t get a good sense of where this realization comes from and how it impacts her life going forward. 

The end of the essay offers a satisfying return to the fire imagery, and highlights the writer’s passion—the one thing that has remained constant in her life.

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite. 

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin. 

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

While the writer didn’t succeed in getting the track dedicated to Coach Stark, their essay is certainly successful in showing their willingness to push themselves and take initiative.

The essay opens with a quote from Coach Stark that later comes full circle at the end of the essay. We learn about Stark’s impact and the motivation for trying to get the track dedicated to him.

One of the biggest areas of improvement in the intro, however, is how the essay tells us Stark’s impact rather than showing us: His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The writer could’ve helped us feel a stronger emotional connection to Stark if they had included examples of Stark’s qualities, rather than explicitly stating them. For example, they could’ve written something like: Stark was the kind of person who would give you gas money if you told him your parents couldn’t afford to pick you up from practice. And he actually did that—several times. At track meets, alumni regularly would come talk to him and tell him how he’d changed their lives. Before Stark, I was ambivalent about running and was on the JV team, but his encouragement motivated me to run longer and harder and eventually make varsity. Because of him, I approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The essay goes on to explain how the writer overcame their apprehension of public speaking, and likens the process of submitting an appeal to the school board to running a race. This metaphor makes the writing more engaging and allows us to feel the student’s emotions.

While the student didn’t ultimately succeed in getting the track dedicated, we learn about their resilience and initiative: I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Overall, this essay is well-done. It demonstrates growth despite failing to meet a goal, which is a unique essay structure. The running metaphor and full-circle intro/ending also elevate the writing in this essay.

Where to Get Your Overcoming Challenges Essay Edited

The Overcoming Challenges essay is one of the trickier supplemental prompts, so it’s important to get feedback on your drafts. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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Essay on Fear in 600 Words: Steps to Overcome Fear

• Updated on  
• Mar 22, 2024

Essay on fear: Fear is a feeling of apprehension, anxiety, or dread in response to a perceived threat or danger. We all fear something. Fear can be caused by any situation, stimuli, individual, or past memory. Fear activates our fight-or-flight response, a surge of hormones like adrenaline that prepares us to face danger head-on or escape a risky situation. 

Overcoming fear requires courage, determination, and willpower. A person who has hydrophobia can overcome his/her fear through exposure therapy under an expert, cognitive behavioral therapy, and efforts. Fearing something for a long time can lead to persistent anxiety and stress, causing symptoms like racing thoughts, difficulty sleeping, muscle tension, and fatigue.

Table of Contents

• 1 Why Do We Fear?
• 2 What Are Some Popular Fears/ Phobias?
• 3 Steps to Overcome Fear
• 4 10 Motivational Quotes to Overcome Fear

Also Read: Essay on Chandrayaan 3

Why Do We Fear?

There are several causes of fear. Humans and animals fear a specific stimulus associated with their unpleasant memories. Our response to fear varies. 

Survival instinct can lead to fear. Individuals who are more cautious and alert to potential dangers are more likely to survive and pass on their genes. Fear drives us to react quickly to threats. This reaction is mostly of fighting or fleeing, increasing our chances of survival. 

Personal experiences or learned behavior can be a cause of fear. A person with a negative experience with a particular situation or object may develop fear or phobia associated with it. This learned fear helps us avoid potential harm in the future.

Our lives are greatly influenced by our cultural and social values. Societal norms, religious beliefs, and cultural traditions often influence what we perceive as threatening or dangerous. 

What Are Some Popular Fears/ Phobias?

The list of fears or phobias is endless. Some of the popular fears/ phobias are:

• Fear or Darkness – Achluophobia
• Fear of Heights – Acrophobia
• Fear of Flying – Aerophobia
• Fear of Failure – Atychiphobia
• Fear of Being Alone – Autophobia
• Fear of Bacteria – Bacteriophobia
• Fear of Gravity – Barophobia
• Fear of Books – Bibliophobia
• Fear of Snow – Chionophobia
• Fear of Dogs – Cynophobia

Steps to Overcome Fear

Identifying your fears, their causes, and their consequences is very important as it can help you overcome them and become successful in life. A person who fears something finds it difficult to deal with everyday situations. Imagine you have Acrophobia or fear of heights and your office is located on the 40th floor of a building. Will you be able to concentrate on your work? Don’t need to panic, as we will provide you with some easy steps to overcome fear.

• Identify Your Fear

Start by identifying your fear, its causes, and what triggers it. What is your fear? Heights? Water? Insects? Whatever it is, talk to yourself about it and understand how you react when you face your fear.

• Challenge Your Thoughts

Our thoughts play an important role in fueling fear. Often, our fearful thoughts are exaggerated or irrational. Challenge these thoughts by asking yourself: How realistic is this fear? What’s the evidence to support this thought? 

• Relaxation Techniques

Fight or flight is the immediate response when we face our fear. This is a natural response. Simple techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation can help calm your body and mind, making it easier to think clearly and rationally.

• Graduation Exposure

Pushing yourself in a controlled and safe way can be a great way to overcome your fear. A person who fears heights can overcome his fear by watching videos of high places. Then progress to visiting a low balcony, and eventually working your way up to higher heights.

• Positive Visualization

How great will you feel when you realize you have successfully overcome your fear? Visualizing can help you take steps that can lead to positive outcomes. This can help build confidence and reduce anxiety.

• Reach Out for Support

Talking to a close friend, family member, or therapist about your fear can be a great way. Talking it out can provide valuable support and encouragement.

• Reward Yourself

As we make progress in overcoming our fears, it is very important to reward ourselves by staying positive and moving forward.

10 Motivational Quotes to Overcome Fear

Here are 10 motivational quotes that can help you overcome your fears.

‘The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.’ – Nelson Mandela

‘You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.’ – Eleanor Roosevelt

‘Do the thing you fear and keep on doing it… Fear is a bully. A bully thrives on your silence. The more you cower, the more it swells. But when you stand up to it, when you seize it by the throat and say, ‘That’s enough,’ it wilts. It shrinks.’ – Rosie Greer

‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.’ – Franklin D. Roosevelt

‘Fear is a natural reaction to a perceived threat. Courage is the movement forward despite that fear.’ – Pauline Rohn

‘Fall seven times and stand up eight.’ – Japanese Proverb

‘I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.’ – Michael Jordan

‘There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the life you are capable of living.’ – Nelson Mandela

‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frighten us.’ – Marianne Williamson

‘Do not let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.’ – Babe Ruth

Ans: Fear is a feeling of apprehension, anxiety, or dread in response to a perceived threat or danger. Identifying your fears, their causes, and their consequences is very important as it can help you overcome them and become successful in life. A person who fears something finds it difficult to deal with everyday situations. Imagine you have Acrophobia or fear of heights and your office is located on the 40th floor of a building. Will you be able to concentrate on your work?

Ans: Survival instinct can lead to fear. Individuals who are more cautious and alert to potential dangers are more likely to survive and pass on their genes. Fear drives us to react quickly to threats. This reaction is mostly of fighting or fleeing, increasing our chances of survival.  Personal experiences or learned behavior can be a cause of fear. A person with a negative experience with a particular situation or object may develop fear or phobia associated with it. This learned fear helps us avoid potential harm in the future.

Ans: ‘The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.’ ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.’ ‘Fear is a natural reaction to a perceived threat. Courage is the movement forward despite that fear.’ ‘Fall seven times and stand up eight.’

Check out our Popular Essay Topics for Students

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu.

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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How to Face Your Fears When You Want to Tackle Them Head-On

Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk,  "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time.

Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images

Evaluate Risks

Create an action plan, seek a therapist, avoiding vs. facing your fears.

A little bit of fear is normal. In fact, fear helps you instinctively protect yourself from harm. Your fear might help you to recognize when you’re about to do something dangerous, and it could help you to make a safer choice.

But, you might find yourself fearful of things that aren’t actually dangerous, like public speaking . Your fear of public speaking might prevent you from advancing in your career or participating in traditions like giving a toast at your best friend's wedding.

If you really want to go on a vacation to Europe, but your fear of flying gives you pause, you might feel like your fear is stopping you from living your dream. If you find that your fear holds you back or creates bigger problems in your life, facing your fear may help you learn to better cope with the fear and ultimately overcome it.

At a Glance

Common ways of facing your fears are evaluating the risks, creating an action plan, seeing a therapist, and being sure not to completely avoid your fears. However, you may need to first decide whether it’s necessary to face your fear if it is not part of your daily life.

Sometimes, fear comes from simply not knowing very much about the thing you fear.   For example, you might be afraid of airplanes because it seems like you have heard about a lot of in-air incidents that lead to injury or death.

However, if you look into the statistics, you might learn that the probability of death on a U.S. commercial jet airline is 1 in 7 million (in comparison to 1 in 600 from smoking).

You can also learn more about what causes those bumps and jolts during turbulence on an aircraft—it’s simply the movement of air having an effect on the aircraft and, if you’re buckled in properly, poses very little threat to you.

Of course, less tangible fears, such as being afraid of public speaking, don’t necessarily have statistics to help you learn more about the risks you perceive. But you can read about other people’s successful public speaking ventures, or learn more about the successful public speaking strategies, to help you feel more confident.

Keep in mind that just because something feels scary, it doesn’t mean it’s actually risky. Educate yourself about the facts and the risks you actually face by doing the things that scare you.

The key to facing your fears is to take one small step at a time. Going too fast or doing something too scary before you are ready can backfire.

But it’s also important to keep moving forward. A moderate amount of anxiety is OK. Don’t wait for your anxiety to disappear before taking a step forward, or you may find yourself waiting for a change that isn't going to come on its own.

The best way to create an action plan is to create a fear hierarchy made up of small steps. Here’s an example of how someone might face the fear of public speaking one step at a time using a form of exposure therapy:

• Stand in front of a mirror and give a two-minute talk.
• Record yourself giving a talk and watch it back.
• Practice the talk in front of a partner.
• Practice the talk in front of a partner and family member.
• Practice the talk in front of a partner, family member, and one friend.
• Practice the talk in front of a partner, family member, and two friends.
• Give the talk in a meeting at work.

In some cases, virtual reality treatment may be an option to provide exposure therapy. The treatment has shown promise in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

If your fears are debilitating, you aren’t having much success facing them on your own, or your fear is related to a specific health condition, like an eating disorder, social anxiety disorder, or PTSD, you can seek the help of a trusted mental health professional. If you have a specific phobia , which is a persistent, diagnosable anxiety disorder, you may not feel prepared to conquer your fears on your own.

A cognitive behavioral therapist can help desensitize you to your fears one small step at a time. Most mental health professionals are comfortable treating a variety of fears and phobias ranging from the fear of public speaking to arachnophobia.

Treatment may involve talking about the thing that scares you, practicing relaxation strategies, and managing your anxiety as you face your fears head-on. A therapist can help you go at a pace that is comfortable and healthy for you.

Fear-facing treatment may include:

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) : ACT involves accepting your fears in order to make them less threatening and less impactful on your life.
• Exposure therapy (immersion therapy) : The underlying principle of exposure therapy is that through practice and experience, you will become more comfortable in situations that you would otherwise avoid.
• Psychoanalytic theory : Psychoanalysis aims to cure the fear or phobia by rooting out and solving the original conflict.

While avoiding the situations you fear might make you feel better in the short term, avoidance can cause increased anxiety in the long term. When you completely avoid your fears, you teach your amygdala (the fear center in your brain) that you can't handle them.

On the contrary, gradually facing your fears, in small doses that don't overwhelm you, may help decrease anxiety "habituating" your amygdala, or letting your brain become accustomed to the fear.

According to an animal study published in the journal Science , the brain has to experience repeated exposure to fear in order to get over it. Researchers placed rodents in a small box and gave them a mild shock. Then, over a long period, they place the same rodents in a box without administering shocks. At first, the mice froze but with repeated exposure, they were able to relax.

While animal research isn't directly applicable to humans, the thought behind facing your fears aims to achieve a similar outcome.

Should You Face Your Fear?

You don’t need to conquer every fear you have. A fear of tsunamis may not be disruptive to your everyday life if you live 1,000 miles away from the ocean. But it may be a problem if you live on the coast and panic every time you hear about earthquakes, storms, or high tides because you think you might be in danger, or you avoid going on a vacation you'd otherwise enjoy in an effort to avoid getting close to open water.

Have an internal conversation with yourself about what your fears are stopping you from doing, and consider whether it’s a problem that you need to confront. Are your fears causing you to lead a less fulfilling life than the one you hoped for?

• Consider the pros and cons of not facing your fear. Write those down.
• Identify the pros and cons of tackling your fears head-on.
• Write down what you might achieve or how your life might be different if you overcome your fear.
• Read over the lists to make a clearer decision about what to do next.

Fear vs. Phobia

When determining whether you should face your fear on your own, it's important to understand the distinction between a normal fear and a phobia. When psychologists distinguish between fears and phobias, the key difference is the strength of the fear response and its impact on the person's life.

You also might watch videos about airplanes, or park your car near an airport in an area where you can watch flights land and take off. Learning more about planes and being near them may help ease your fear over time. 

If you can’t actually do the thing that scares you to practice, you might use imagined exposure. For example, while it’s difficult to practice flying on an airplane one step at a time, you might be able to induce a little anxiety by imagining yourself getting on a plane. Think about how it would feel to take your seat and how you would handle feeling the plane take off.

Both fears and phobias generate an emotional response, but a phobia causes anxiety that is disproportionate to the perceived threat so much so that it interferes with a person's ability to function. For example, while a fear of flying may make you anxious about an upcoming trip or have you considering an alternate means of travel, if you have aerophobia (a specific phobia surrounding flying), your phobia may impact your daily life, including:

• Spending an inordinate amount of time worrying about flying (even when a trip isn't imminent)
• Avoiding airports
• Becoming anxious when planes fly overhead
• Having an inability to board a flight, or experiencing a serious physiological response like sweating, shaking, or crying if you do board a plane

While treatment for phobia may very well include an element of facing the fear in the form of guided therapy, it may also include medication or alternative therapies.

What This Means For You

The best way to conquer a fear is to face it head-on, but it’s important to do so in a healthy manner that helps you move past the fear rather than in a way that traumatizes you. If you're having difficulty on your own, a mental health professional can guide you gradually through the situations that you fear, being sure to first work on the thought patterns that keep you stuck.

Seif, M. Eight Steps to Overcoming Your Fear of Flying . Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. What Is Exposure Therapy? . American Psychological Association (APA), Div. 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology).

Pachana NA, Woodward RM, Byrne GJ. Treatment of specific phobia in older adults . Clin Interv Aging . 2007;2(3):469-76. PMID:18044196

Khalaf O, Resch S, Dixsaut L, Gorden V, Glauser L, Gräff J. Reactivation of recall-induced neurons contributes to remote fear memory attenuation . Science . 2018;360(6394):1239-1242. doi:10.1126/science.aas9875

By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk,  "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time.

1. Start when you’re ready.

Most of us are willing to tolerate a certain amount of fear without seeking treatment for it. I’m not a huge fan of snakes, but I don’t live in daily fear or avoid any activities because of it (besides holding snakes). We generally seek help, according to Yusko, when we “cross a threshold where things are no longer acceptable.” Sometimes it’s a degree of suffering that’s intolerable; other times it’s interfering in our lives in ways that are unacceptable—especially when it intrudes on what we consider sacred space, like our relationships.

For Lovitz it was when her phobia was getting in the way of parenting her twin daughters. “When I couldn’t be a nurturing mother to my baby who needed me, I realized, This is unacceptable, and I need to work on it . It was unacceptable for me to not be there for my child. The thought of not being there for them was just intolerable.”

If you find that you’re fed up with feeling afraid, or that you won’t tolerate how fear is interfering with things you care about, it’s probably a good time to seek treatment. That intense desire to change can provide the motivation for the challenges of therapy.

2. Do it on purpose.

Most of us encounter things we’re afraid of regularly, but the fear remains. What makes exposure different? As Yusko points out, the framework matters. He emphasizes the importance of “bringing purpose and intentionality, and deciding to engage your fears,” as opposed to incidental contact with what we’re afraid of. Waiting for frightening things to happen to us “is a pretty scary way to go about change,” he observed. “So the intentional practice gives a little bit more control and predictability, and therefore more effectiveness in the learning process.”

It’s a powerful learning experience when we approach something frightening on purpose. Our brains are constantly making inferences based on our actions. Lovitz found that avoidance “strengthened the lie that you’re telling yourself”—in her case, “that vomit was something to be scared of and something to avoid.” But when she saw herself facing her fears, it strengthened an opposing pathway in the brain—one that knew she needn’t be afraid.

3. Make it systematic.

Exposure therapy is based around an organized hierarchy of feared situations, which are ranked from easiest to hardest. Treatment involves practicing with the more approachable items first, and working up to the harder ones. Many people, including Lovitz, take heart in knowing that there’s a plan for working progressively through their fears.

Start with situations that are somewhat challenging but manageable. For someone with a vomit phobia, that might include reading articles that mention vomit. Over time the harder situations become more approachable, just like the upper rungs on a ladder are within reach as we ascend the lower ones. The goal is to be able to deal with any situation that might reasonably arise, without excessive distress and without running away.

A crucial part of the learning process as we face our fears is seeing that what we’re afraid of (usually) doesn’t happen. We handle a snake and aren’t harmed. The dog we pet doesn’t bite us. The elevator we ride to the top floor doesn’t get stuck halfway up. And we find that over time, our anxiety diminishes, and we’re better able to tolerate the discomfort.

If we run away when our anxiety rises, we’ll never have a chance to learn what’s on the other side of it. So during exposure, we stay in the scary situation long enough to gain new information. Typically we aim to stay for a certain amount of time (e.g., 20 minutes). That way when we leave it’s because time is up, not because we had to escape from our anxiety.

A single exposure is an act of bravery, but it’s unlikely to conquer our anxiety. That’s why flying on a plane once a year for the holidays doesn’t make us less afraid of flying. The therapy is in the repetition. Plan to do your exposure exercises multiple times to wear down your fear.

6. Expect ups and downs.

Like many people I’ve treated in my clinical practice, Lovitz found that her response to phobic situations was not always the same. “In some ways I feel totally cured,” she said, noting, for example, that she has no problem watching people vomit in movies. But she said that depending on what else she’s dealing with in her life, “maybe my reactions aren’t as great as I want them to be all the time.” Sometimes she’ll find that her heart is racing or she’ll feel sweaty and uncomfortable, and disgusted, when confronted with vomit. “But I’m able to get through it,” she said.

We’re humans, not machines. Our reactions will depend on many variables and won’t always be the same. Just because something didn’t upset us today doesn’t mean it won’t tomorrow. So go easy on yourself as you experience these ups and downs. And keep practicing the principles of exposure.

“I think I’ll always be in recovery,” said Lovitz. She accepts that she’ll probably always have some degree of upsetting thoughts when it comes to vomit. “I think I’m just wired this way,” she said. Thankfully her reaction to these thoughts is completely different now that she’s done the hard work of therapy. “It’s how I react to them—the stories I tell myself, and what I do once the thoughts occur—that makes me a recovering emetophobe and not a suffering emetophobe.”

The full conversation is available here: Ep. 127: Dara Lovitz & Dr. David Yusko — How to Master an Intense Fear of Vomit (and Anything Else) .

Lovitz, D., & Yusko, D. (2021). Gag reflections: Conquering a fear of vomit through exposure therapy . Jefferson, NC: McFarland Books.

Seth J. Gillihan, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and author specializing in mindful cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

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Facing Your Fears: Overcoming The Things That Scare You The Most

Everyone has something they’re scared of, even the strongest, bravest people. According to Robin Stern , associate director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, "Fear signals that there is danger and is a universal emotion experienced all over the world.” Fear is a natural part of the human psyche, and though it’s not entirely possible to completely eliminate fear, it is possible to manage your fears. 

Learning your fears often involves confronting them head-on and working to understand them. If you practice facing the things that scare you, you can develop better ways to manage that fear in your daily life, no matter what scary thing arises. By doing so, you won’t feel forced to avoid things or live in a constant state of worry because of a specific fear.

Why it is important to face your fears

This is the true goal of overcoming your fears: identifying them, understanding them, and managing them in a healthy, productive way.

When it comes to fear, most people’s initial response when they happen to face the thing they’re afraid of is to continue avoiding it! It’s a natural emotional response to want to avoid contact with the thing or situation you’re afraid of. After all, that’s how fear works! But, if your fear is of something that doesn’t make logical sense (i.e., there’s not a threat of imminent danger), then facing your irrational fears can help you build your confidence and live a fuller and more fulfilling life.

One of the most significant advantages of facing your fears is that you can develop courage in all areas of your life, not only when it comes to facing the thing you’re afraid of. Whenever something happens that’s concerning, or that touches on other fears, no matter how major or minor, you can be better equipped to manage your emotions and physical responses to the fear (or the anticipation of it).

Also, learning how to face and cope with your fears can help cultivate compassion. When you recognize and confront your own anxieties and fears with love and respect for yourself, you’re more likely to start working with other people in the same calm way, whether it be a loved one, employee, boss, or even just a person on the street.

So how do you begin to face your fear? If you’re afraid of something, there’s going to be resistance! You’ll have to develop a well-thought-out plan for facing your fears, and it never hurts to have the support of those around you. This article provides tips on some of the best ways to overcome the things that scare you the most.

How to face your fears

Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ways to confront fear.

Actively engage with or think about the fear

Depending on the fear, this may be more or less difficult to actually do, and depending on the intensity of the fear, you may need to start by approaching the fear for only 2-3 minutes at a time. As a more tangible example, someone with a fear of spiders might read a book or a web article about spiders. In contrast, someone with glossophobia, a fear of public speaking, might sit and picture being in front of a large group of people while presenting on a topic. In either situation, it may help to focus on how you breathe, making sure your muscles are relaxed as you remind your mind and body that you are not at risk of any harm.

A study published in Science in 2019 demonstrated that mice had to be re-exposed to the thing they were afraid of to overcome it once and for all; this study advocated for the need to actively engage with a phobia to be able to overcome it successfully.

There are some essential things to remember when you’re actively engaging with specific fears. First of all, you should remember that you can always take a step back from the fearful situation to take a break. Second, it can be helpful to reward yourself after confronting your fear by engaging in a positive and enjoyable activity that will help you relax. This could be taking a bath, reading your favorite book, or spending time with loved ones.

Learn from your fear

One thing that’s commonly overlooked regarding fear is that, often, they have something to teach us. Many people who struggle with phobias have some core, underlying set of beliefs, life events, or thought patterns that fuel the fear. By taking the time to try and honor the anxiety, learning about it, and trying to understand it, you may learn more about yourself and how your brain works. Consider asking your fear what it has taught you and what it can teach you in the future.

It’s important to have courage in overcoming and approaching the fear from the standpoint of wanting to learn about it; understanding it can be a form of courage and strength. Being able to acknowledge that fear can be instructive and that you’re strong and wise enough to learn what it has to teach you can be a powerful thing. Although it might seem counterintuitive to honor fear in this way, when you give the fear the respect it deserves and try to learn from it while you overcome it, the fear is no longer in charge. You and the fear may become equals, and suddenly, you’re back in control of your life and your situation.

Explore the fear with courage, and you might be surprised by what you find!

Give yourself the care you deserve

While you’re working on overcoming your fears, it’s vital to continue a healthy routine of self-care. Facing your fears is difficult, and you may need a bit of extra time each day to nurture your mind and body. You may also consider asking someone you have a close relationship with, such as a friend or family, to act as extra support while you work through your fear.

The human body manifests a physiological response in the face of fear, so it’s only natural that after facing your fears, you may need to wind down and relax. At the same time, it’s important to get enough exercise and movement during the day! Exercise releases endorphins and helps your body and mind to feel good. Create a routine that works for you.

Talk to a therapist

Anyone with a fear of anything can benefit from talking to an expert on the subject. There are many kinds of therapists who work with phobias with great success. Cognitive-behavioral therapy involves a technique called “desensitization,” more often referred to as exposure therapy , to treat and manage fears by gradually exposing the patient to the fear over some time. 

Cognitive-behavioral therapy involves regular talk therapy as well as other specialized techniques that target the fear directly; hypnotherapy, in contrast, works with the patient’s innermost thoughts, feelings, and experiences to find the root cause of the fear and reframe the situation so that the fear doesn’t exist anymore. Both cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnotherapy are effective in treating phobias, and it’s up to the patient which method they choose if they decide to get therapy to overcome their fears. Most often, with either therapy, the patient will need to attend more than one session.

Today, you don’t even have to go into a therapist’s office to receive the help you need. Online therapy has been  proven to be just as effective as in-person therapy , especially when it comes to behavioral treatments. It may be useful for those who have complicated schedules or for those in a specific situation where fear makes it difficult for them to leave their home.

If you're currently struggling with a phobia, contact the team of licensed therapists at BetterHelp . You can match with a therapist who will work with you to help you overcome your fears. You can also message your therapist at any time, meaning you can record your reactions to fear stimuli in the moment for a more accurate response. There is never any shame in asking for help, regardless of your phobia. The BetterHelp team is here to support you.

What does it mean to face your fears?

Facing your fears means overcoming the panic and instinct to retreat or freeze that usually comes with a perceived threat. Fear facing is commonly done with exposure therapy or other desensitization methods. 

What does the idiom face your fears mean?

To “face your fears” is a phrase that means learning to recognize a fear response and appropriately manage it without allowing it to become debilitating or overwhelm you. It’s unclear where this exact phrase originates, but it may come from the idea of encountering something “face to face,” or in-person. 

How can I overcome my fears?

Though there is no one “best way” to overcome fears or “best thing” to do about fear, as everyone is different and will need different coping mechanisms, the UK-based NHS recommends ten methods to fight fear and panic.

• Take a step away from the fear-inducing situation to center yourself.
• Practice deep breathing exercises to quell panic responses.
• Intentionally expose yourself to your fear in a controlled environment to desensitize yourself to it.
• Try to imagine the worst-case scenario, then consider the more realistic version, to put your fear into perspective.
• Explore the logical evidence behind your fearful thoughts. Is this actually dangerous or is your body seeing a threat that isn’t there?
• Remember that no one is perfect and there will be times when the fear wins, and that this is okay.
• Practice mindfulness or imagine a “happy place” to bring yourself to a more calm state.
• Talk with friends, family, or a mental health professional about your fears and how they affect you. 
• Take care of your physical health to give yourself the best chance of a healthy emotional response. Drink lots of water, exercise regularly, and go to bed on time.
• Reward yourself for successful fear-facing! Managing your fears is hard to achieve, so it’s okay to get yourself a treat afterward. This can also reinforce the calm behavior through conditioning.

What is facing your fears called?

You may have heard “facing your fears” also called desensitization or exposure therapy, though exposure therapy is usually a more specific and structured method. 

How do you express your fear face?

Fear can be expressed via raised, pulled-together brows, wide-open eyes, and either a tensely shut or gaping open mouth. In the body, fear might look like shrinking away from the trigger or curling into one’s self. A person might whimper or scream, or they may feel like their throat is “stuck” and be unable to make noise at all.

What is an idiom for fear?

Some idioms for expressing fear include

• Acting like a deer in the headlights
• Having the daylights scared out of you
• Soiling your pants or the bed (often using cruder language)
• To have a horror of something
• To become panic-stricken
• To shake like a leaf

What are the benefits of facing your fears?

There are many benefits to facing your fears. It can lead to a more confident outlook on life, allow you to participate in activities you might not otherwise be able to enjoy, create a reasonable action plan for exploring and defining your emotions, and make moving forward from trauma or disordered emotions easier.

Does facing your fears make you stronger?

Facing your fears can, in the short term and the long term, give you stronger control of your emotions and improve your resilience. 

Why is it difficult to face your fears?

You may have heard that overcoming fear is extremely difficult or even impossible. Many believe this because the panic associated with the emotion of fear is a strong psychological and physical response that can cause difficulty in regular functioning, making it harder to overcome than more mild emotions. That being said, it is possible to overcome fear with the right support.

Why is it important to overcome your fears essay?

Overcoming your fears can help limit your fight or flight response, meaning that your body is not under as much stress as it might be if your fears are left unchecked. Structured fear-overcoming plans can help people manage panic disorders and other conditions by providing them with the tools they need to fight off panic attacks and stabilize themselves quickly and effectively. This kind of plan may also be the best thing that a person who often lets themselves imagine worst-case scenarios (catastrophizing) can do to fight off these negative and unhelpful thoughts. 

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Fear — How I Have Challenged My Fear

How I Have Challenged My Fear

• Categories: Fear Overcoming Challenges

About this sample

Words: 550 |

Published: Feb 8, 2022

Words: 550 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Works Cited

• Feeney, A. (2019). Overcoming Fear: Finding the Courage to Face Your Fears and Embrace Change. John Wiley & Sons.
• Seligman, M. E. (2006). Learned optimism: How to change your mind and your life. Vintage.
• Adams, S. K. (2019). How to Overcome Fear and Find Your Courage: Overcoming Fear, Gaining Confidence, Building Trust, and Improving Self Esteem. Independently Published.
• Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. Avery.
• Knaus, W. J. (2006). Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear. American Management Association.
• Chansky, T. E. (2014). Freeing your child from anxiety: Powerful, practical solutions to overcome your child's fears, worries, and phobias. Harmony.
• Lerner, H. G. (2015). Fear and other uninvited guests: Tackling the anxiety, fear, and shame that keep us from optimal living and loving. HarperCollins.
• Rappaport, J. (2017). The Courage Habit: How to Accept Your Fears, Release the Past, and Live Your Courageous Life. New Harbinger Publications.
• McGrath, C. (2018). The Psychology of Fear in Organizations: How to Transform Anxiety into Well-being, Productivity and Innovation. Kogan Page.
• Gilbert, E. (2019). Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. Riverhead Books.

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Essay on How to Overcome Fear

Students are often asked to write an essay on How to Overcome Fear in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on How to Overcome Fear

Understanding fear.

Fear is a natural response to danger, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. Understanding what fear is and why we experience it can help to manage it.

Identifying the Fear

The first step to overcoming fear is identifying it. Is it a fear of heights, spiders, or public speaking? Once you know what scares you, you can start to confront it.

Gradual Exposure

Start by gradually exposing yourself to the thing you fear. If you’re scared of dogs, start by looking at pictures, then maybe visit a pet shop.

Positive Thinking

When fear strikes, try to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. This can help to reduce the intensity of your fear.

Seeking Help

If your fear is too much to handle alone, don’t be afraid to seek help. A trusted adult or a professional can provide useful guidance and support.

250 Words Essay on How to Overcome Fear

Fear, a primal human emotion, is a response to perceived threats. It serves as a protective mechanism, alerting us to danger. However, when fear becomes overwhelming, it can hinder our daily lives and decision-making processes.

Identifying the Source

The first step in overcoming fear is identifying its source. Fear can stem from past experiences, perceived future events, or even an overactive imagination. By pinpointing the root cause, we can confront our fears directly.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is a common method used to combat fears. It involves gradually and repeatedly exposing oneself to the fear source. Over time, this can help desensitize our reaction to the fear stimulus.

Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations can help in reshaping our thought patterns. By consistently practicing positive self-talk, we can replace fear-induced thoughts with empowering beliefs.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness and meditation can aid in managing fear. By focusing on the present, we can avoid getting trapped in past fear-inducing experiences or worrying about future uncertainties.

Professional Help

Sometimes, fear can be deeply ingrained, requiring professional help. Therapists and psychologists are trained to help individuals navigate their fears and develop coping strategies.

In conclusion, overcoming fear is a process that requires understanding, confrontation, and practice. By identifying the source of fear, utilizing techniques like exposure therapy, positive affirmations, and mindfulness, and seeking professional help when needed, we can gradually learn to manage and overcome our fears.

500 Words Essay on How to Overcome Fear

Fear is a common human emotion, an instinctive response to perceived threats or danger. It can be both a protective mechanism, alerting us to potential harm, and a hindrance, preventing us from pursuing our goals or engaging fully in life. Understanding fear is the first step towards overcoming it. Fear can be categorized into two types: acute fear, which is immediate and temporary, and chronic fear, which is long-term and often irrational, such as phobias or anxiety disorders.

The Role of Perception in Fear

Perception plays a crucial role in fear. Our brains are wired to make rapid assessments of situations and respond accordingly. This is why we might feel afraid when walking alone at night, even if we are in a safe area. Our perception of the situation, rather than the reality, drives our fear. To overcome fear, we need to challenge and change our perceptions.

Strategies to Overcome Fear

There are several strategies that can help in overcoming fear.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of psychotherapy that can be highly effective in managing fear. It involves identifying negative thought patterns and challenging them with rational, positive thoughts. For example, if you have a fear of public speaking, CBT would involve identifying thoughts like “I will mess up and everyone will laugh at me,” and replacing them with more rational thoughts like “I have prepared well and I am capable.”

Exposure therapy is another effective strategy, particularly for phobias and anxiety disorders. It involves gradually and repeatedly exposing yourself to the thing you fear, in a controlled and safe environment, until your fear response decreases.

Mindfulness and meditation can also be beneficial in managing fear. By focusing on the present moment, rather than worrying about the future or dwelling on the past, we can reduce anxiety and fear. Techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, and progressive muscle relaxation can help to calm the mind and body.

Physical Activity

Physical activity is another effective tool in combating fear. Exercise can reduce stress hormones and stimulate the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators.

Seeking Professional Help

If fear is significantly impacting your life, it may be helpful to seek professional help. Therapists and counselors are trained to help you understand and manage your fears.

Fear is a complex emotion that can both protect us and hold us back. By understanding the nature of fear, challenging our perceptions, and utilizing strategies such as CBT, exposure therapy, mindfulness, meditation, physical activity, and professional help, we can learn to manage and overcome our fears. Remember, courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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8 Bold Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Writing

by Sarah Gribble | 0 comments

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Today I want to talk about fear. Fear of writing, fear of sharing your work, fear of publishing—and how you can overcome it.

Writers face fear on a day-to-day basis.

The self-doubt . The fear of failure. And, oh, the vulnerability.

Writing is hard enough with all the self-evaluation and doubt about your abilities. But then sharing your work with other people so they can critique or review it? CRINGE.

When you sink into that fear it debilitates you. If you let fear hold you back, you’re ensuring you never achieve your goals. You’ll never write that book and you’ll never get published. All because you were too scared.

8 Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Writing

It’s time to stop letting fear control you and get writing. Here’s how:

1. Do what scares you.

When you’re up against something that makes you cringe, ask yourself what the worst-case scenario is. Is it actually  harmful? Unless it’s something like jumping from a bridge into a rocky river or stepping in front of a speeding vehicle, it’s probably not.

Fear is trying to keep you safe. It needs to learn that just because something is scary doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s detrimental to your health. Do what scares you, and keep doing it, and the fear will subside.

This includes fear of our own writing. I'm not saying you have to go write a 90,000 word novel. Start with a short story, or try out some writing prompts.

Aspiring writers might feel intiimdated because they don't think that they are a great writer. The reality is, you can never become a great writer unless you practice—and to practice, you have to write.

Embrace and overcome your fear by putting words down. Start writing, have patience with yourself, and worry about the rest later.

The blank page becomes way less scary as soon as you put words on it.

2. Stop procrastinating.

Your house is already clean enough. That TV show can wait. No, you don’t need to run to the store to pick up a bag of chips.

Figure out when the best time for you to write is and then write.

If you really, truly need a break to clear your mind, set a time limit. Ten minutes of scrubbing the grout with a toothbrush and then get back to your writing.

Ultimately, those who procrastinate will be more prone to writing off procrastination as writer's block—and the more time you spend away from writing, the scary it will become.

3. Learn from criticism.

Criticism is what everyone fears. Not just in writing, but in life. We all want to be liked, to be perfect, to be praised.

Your writing will not please everyone and that’s something you should realize and accept now. Criticism is much easier to take when you go into it knowing that fact.

Don’t just ignore criticism, though. Writing is like everything else in that it requires practice. You don't have to rank #1 on Amazon or make a bestseller list your first go (even though I won't argue that would be fantastic).

The first meal you cooked wasn’t a gourmet meal. The first time you dribbled a basketball wasn’t Lebron-level. Someone was there to point out what you were doing wrong and set you on the right path. They taught you how to get better.

That’s what criticism is: teaching.

It's not  rejecting your work, which might be why some writers fail to share their work: because their fear of rejection is mistakenly associated with getting critiques.

Yes, sometimes it’s mean-spirited, especially in this age of internet trolls. But even in those nasty reviews, there’s normally something to learn from.

Find it. Use it. And do better next time.

4. Stop revising.

You want every sentence in your work to be perfect . I have a secret for you: you’ll never get there.

Your writing will never be perfect. 

Not to you, not to your editors, and not to your readers. It’s impossible, so stop revising ad nauseam. At some point, you have to let it go and put the work out there.

Perfectionism can stunt your creative writing instead of empower it.

To avoid this, set a limit. I prefer three drafts. That’s it. Three and then I let it fly on its own.

What are you writing for? We'll never know unless you decide to share your work.

5. Set goals and move toward them.

Focus on milestones like daily word counts and deadlines (self-imposed or otherwise).

Writing a book is like summiting a mountain: you do it  one step at a time . When you reach the top you might be a little exhausted and out of breath, but you’ll look back at all you’ve accomplished and feel proud.

Without these smaller milestones, it might be hard to finish your piece of writing, or even find the motivation to keep writing each day.

Stories are finished one day at a time, with hard work and a desire to grow your writing process.

Don't sweat the small stuff in your first drafts, like word choice. Instead, set a long term goal of continually learning how to write better and smaller milestones that will help you finish stories you start.

All of this is accomplished word by word, and by turning real and irrational fears into manageable tasks.

6. Embrace the fear of writing.

You’re going to be scared frequently in this business. My stomach still flips every time I submit a short story , even though I’ve submitted hundreds of times. It’s going to happen.

The trick is to acknowledge it and move forward. It didn’t kill you.

In fact, that little tingle of fear should be your signal to celebrate. You did what scared you and that’s amazing.

One book that a lot of writers really love on this subject is The War of Art  by Steven Pressfield. If you're feeling discouraged or swallowed by your fear, check out this book for some motivation.

Even better, find and join a writing group like we have here at The Write Practice. Nothing helps you overcome your fears like a supportive community with a kindred creative spirit.

7. If your character can do it, so can you.

You don’t let your characters sit back on their heels because they’re scared, do you? I hope not, because if you do, you don’t have a story .

Your characters don’t have the luxury of sitting on the bench. They must make decisions and do something about the problem. And so should you.

Don’t let fear of writing take over your writing life. Decide to move forward, to write that book, to send out that manuscript. Decide and then do it.

8. Ask for help if you need it.

Don’t be afraid to ask for time to yourself so that you can write. Your family and friends will understand you need that time because writing is important to you.

Find a group of writers and readers that can go through your story and give constructive feedback. You can't improve in a vacuum.

Need to know what a day in the life of a flight attendant looks like, or the lingo of a truck driver? Ask them. Trust me, you’re not bothering them. People love talking about themselves.

In the same vein, if you need help with research, that’s literally what librarians are for. They’ll be glad to help.

Don’t let fear of asking for help stagnate your writing.

Embrace the Fear

I want to leave you with these words from Carrie Fisher:

Your fears are natural and normal. They're also not the end of the story.

Your task, the challenge for every writer, is to face that fear of writing, acknowledge it, and write, share, publish anyway .

Need extra motivation? Have you checked out The Write Practice’s 100 Day Book program ? It’s the best way to stop letting fear of writing control you and get that book done. Click here to find more information on the course.

What scares you most about writing and/or the business side of writing? What are some steps you can take to overcome that fear?  Let me know in the comments !

Today I want you to spend fifteen minutes writing about a time you were scared to do something but did it anyway. Describe the exact feelings of fear you had. How did you feel after you'd done what scared you?

When you’re finished, share your work in the Pro Practice Workshop here (and if you’re not a member yet, you can join here ).

Sarah Gribble

Sarah Gribble is the author of dozens of short stories that explore uncomfortable situations, basic fears, and the general awe and fascination of the unknown. She just released Surviving Death , her first novel, and is currently working on her next book.

Follow her on Instagram or join her email list for free scares.

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Bestselling author with over five years of coaching experience. Sarah Gribble specializes in working with Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror, Speculative Fiction, and Thriller books. Sound like a good fit for you?

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Overcoming Fears

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Franklin D Roosevelt (1882 – 1945), 32nd American president

• January 13, 2022
• General English
• No Comments

Home » Overcoming Fears

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This free ESL lesson plan on overcoming fears has been designed for adults and young adults at an intermediate (B1/B2) to advanced (C1/C2) level and should last around 45 to 60 minutes for one student.

Different things trigger a sense of fear in different people. Children are typically afraid of the dark or the monster that surely lives under their bed. Adults overcome these childhood fears, only to replace them with new fears such as social acceptance or speaking in public. Some people have irrational fears of things that couldn’t possibly cause them harm like buttons or clowns. Other fears, such as a fear of spiders or snakes, are a little more logical. Either way, our fears very often prevent us from doing what we want to do, so overcoming them is a challenge we have to face sooner or later. In this ESL lesson plan on overcoming fears, students will have the opportunity to discuss and express their opinions on issues such as common fears and the best ways to overcome them.

For advice on how to use this English lesson plan and  other lesson plans  on this site, see the  guide for ESL teachers .

PRE-CLASS ACTIVITIES

Reading activity Before the English class, send the following article to the students and ask them to read it while making a list of any new vocabulary or phrases they find (explain any the students don’t understand in the class):

Very Well Mind | How to Face Your Fears

The article gives a number of pieces of advice for people wanting to overcome their fears, including evaluating risks, seeking the help of a therapist, and deciding whether to avoid or confront a fear. At the start of the class, hold a brief discussion about what the students thought about the article. What do they think about the issues raised in the article? Do they agree with what was said? Can they think of any ways they might disagree with the content of the article?

Video activity To save time in class for the conversation activities, the English teacher can ask the students to watch the video below and answer the listening questions in Section 3 of the lesson plan at home. There are intermediate listening questions and advanced listening questions so teachers can decide which would be more appropriate for their students. Check the answers in the class.

The video for this class is called “Tips On How To Overcome Fear Of Flying” by Todaywhich looks at a number thing people can do on a plane if they experience turbulence to overcome their fear of flying.

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

The focus in the class is on conversation in order to help improve students’ fluency and confidence when speaking in English as well as boosting their vocabulary.

This lesson opens with a short discussion about the article the students read before the class. Next, the students can give their opinion on the quote at the beginning of the lesson plan – what they think the quote means and if they agree with it. This is followed by an initial discussion on the topic including what children are typically afraid of, how the students feel when they see something scary, and whether there is a connection between fears and prejudices.

After this, students will learn some vocabulary connected with overcoming fears such as to come with something , dread and nightmare . This vocabulary has been chosen to boost the students’ knowledge of less common vocabulary that could be useful for preparing for English exams like IELTS or TOEFL. The vocabulary is accompanied by a cloze activity and a speaking activity to test the students’ comprehension of these words.

If the students didn’t watch the video before the class, they can watch it after the vocabulary section and answer the listening questions. Before checking the answers, ask the students to give a brief summary of the video and what they thought about the content.

Finally, there is a more in-depth conversation about overcoming fears. In this speaking activity, students will talk about issues such as their own experiences overcoming fears, why we fear the unknown, and fears when speaking in English.

After the class, students will write about their opinion of overcoming fears. This could be a short paragraph or a longer piece of writing depending on what level the student is at. The writing activity is designed to allow students to practise and improve their grammar with the feedback from their teacher. For students who intend to take an international English exam such as IELTS or TOEFL, there is an alternative essay question to practise their essay-writing skills.

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