Fear is a part of daily life. You have small day-to-day anxieties, from driving in a hectic city during commute traffic to making a cold call to a potential client at work. You also have major phobias that scare you on a much deeper level -- for example, the fear of isolation, poverty or failure.
Fears -- small or large -- can have a positive impact on you, when they help you weigh risks and make good decisions, but they can also be paralyzing when you allow them to control your life. Journal writing therapy gives you a space to talk about your fears without feeling threatened and offers the opportunity to overcome your phobias.
Over the next week, explore your personal fears with these journal prompts:
1. What is the most common fear you experience on a regular basis? On a scale from 1 to 10, how afraid do you feel when you have to confront it? What other emotions do you feel (stress, anxiety, depression, etc.)? Does this fear prevent you from participating in other activities or taking on new opportunities? What techniques are most successful in helping you calm down or build up your courage before confronting your fear? Write a list of concrete steps you can take to manage this phobia.
2. What fear do you lose sleep over or find yourself fixating on continuously? Is it a concern that is close to becoming a reality, or is it a fear of an unlikely worst-case scenario? Where do you think this phobia originated? Can you identify an incident or circumstances earlier in your life that caused you to experience this fear? Free-write about your fear and what you are most anxious about happening. Imagine that you do have to deal with the worst-case scenario... what then? Write about how you would cope with that situation and how you would survive.
3. Do a journal writing therapy word association with the word “fear.” Write the first word that comes to mind when you think of fear. Continue to do this until you have a long list of words and your mind feels empty and quiet. Now do the same exercise with the word “courage.” After you have both lists completed, read them over and pay attention to how you feel and what you notice during the process. Write for five more minutes about your impressions and observations.
Which of the journal prompts did you choose to write about? Share your journaling experiences in the comments.
Find hundreds more Journal Prompts write here!
If you want to learn how to tackle life challenges, please download the free eBook, The Journaling Guide to Manage The Stress and Strains of Life.
Are you ready to make changes in your life, but not sure how to begin? The Start Changing Your Life self-paced journaling course can be the first step in taking action to make it happen.
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