All of us struggle with fear and worry from time to time. In fact, in many cases, anxiety is a good and healthy thing. It causes us to wear seatbelts and try to eat healthily. It keeps us from doing something that will hurt us, like getting too close to a fire or jumping into a lion’s cage at the zoo.

It is also natural to be concerned about our health, bank account, job status, children, and more. When something threatens one of those things, we take notice. We work hard to protect ourselves and those we love.

In some ways, fear is both a natural and helpful part of what it means to be human.

But if fear gets out of control, it can take over and prevent us from enjoying life. When consumed by fear, we cannot be present for others or do the things we love. Overwhelming fear affects our health, saps our strength, makes it difficult to concentrate, and robs us of sleep.

It also keeps us from taking any risks. If we are afraid, we will not start new businesses, write books, or initiate relationships. We will continuously play it safe, always trying to insulate ourselves from any negative consequences. When we play it safe, we do not grow. We stagnate. We miss out on great opportunities.

We cannot run from fear or simply hope it goes away. There will always be something that worries us.

If we are going to navigate the often-difficult world in which we live successfully, we need effective strategies for coping with worry and fear. We must be able to deal with our anxieties in healthy and productive ways.

Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” And while this is not 100% true (there are real things to fear), his point is well made. Fear holds us back from living life to the fullest. We must learn how to overcome our fears, so we can move toward the things we desire.

Learn the proven strategies for facing and overcoming your fears. You will learn practical, healthy strategies for handling worry and anxiety. No, your worries will not suddenly vanish. But you will be equipped to face them and deal with them.

Ready? Let us dive in tomorrow with part two. La Wanna Parker