I was running in the dark yesterday and want to share something I realized. Running in the dark can bring all kinds of emotions to the surface—heightened awareness, unease, and sometimes even fear. We often hear the advice, ‘Do it afraid,’ but after this recent experience, I’ve come to realize that pushing through fear without preparation might not always be the best approach.
I’ve known this for a long time, but now I’ve felt it in a way that’s clearer and easier to explain to myself—and to others.
It’s not that I was paralyzed by fear. Instead, I felt an overwhelming sense of discomfort, and that’s something I couldn’t ignore. My body felt it, my mind felt it, and while my soul seemed calm, I realized it’s important to listen to what fear and discomfort are telling us.
Step 1: Get to Know Your Fear
The key to overcoming fear easily starts with understanding it. When I’m out running in the dark, I know what’s around me, but I can’t fully see it. That lack of visibility plays a huge role in the fear of the unknown. Every small sound, every gust of wind—it all feels bigger in the darkness.
Instead of pushing through blindly, I asked myself, What exactly am I afraid of? Once you name your fear, you start to take away its power. Fear thrives on the unknown, so the more you understand it, the more manageable it becomes.
But in this particular situation, it wasn’t quite fear that I experienced—it was the knowing of what I didn’t want to experience: shock. My body and mind have been through it before, and they know how unsettling that shock can be, and how long it takes to recover. It wasn’t just fear of the dark; it was a readiness for something shocking to happen in that environment.
So, in my case, I realized that running when it’s not dark removes that extra layer of stress. Of course, something shocking could still happen in daylight, but in the dark, it’s as if my body and mind were more on edge, expecting it to happen. The possibility felt much higher in the dark. Do you agree?
Step 2: Learn What Fear Is Teaching You
Fear isn’t just something to conquer—it’s something to learn from. In that moment, I realized fear was telling me something important: that I wasn’t fully prepared for this experience.
Your fear might be pointing to areas where you need to grow, learn more, or simply prepare better. It could be telling you to slow down or that you’re on the brink of something transformative. Take the time to listen to what your fear is really trying to say.
And to explain it further, I don’t think shock is something we can truly prepare for. We know what happens to our bodies and minds after we experience shock—how unsettling it feels, and how long it can take to recover. In this case, the chances were high that something sudden, like my cat crossing my path, could have startled me because I was running near my house in the dark.
So, for me, running when it’s light is the greatest act of self-love I can give myself. It’s not about telling myself, “It will be okay” or simply trusting that nothing bad will happen. It’s about setting myself up to feel good and comfortable while doing something I love, like running.
You can apply this way of thinking to other situations in life. It’s not necessarily about being afraid of the dark; it’s about the unknown and the unseen. It’s about the very real potential for something to happen that our body and mind already know how to react to—and they want us to understand that.
By listening to what fear and discomfort are telling you, you can make better decisions that support your well-being rather than pushing through blindly.
Step 3: Take Small, Prepared Steps
Overcoming fear doesn’t mean you have to tackle everything at once. It’s not about jumping into the unknown without any preparation. Instead, break it down. Take small, manageable steps. When I took a step back and thought about what I needed to feel safer during my run, I realized it wasn’t about pushing through—it was about preparation.
Start by preparing mentally and physically for the challenges you face. Each step you take builds your confidence and reduces fear. Whether it’s researching, training, or planning, those small actions help you move forward without overwhelming yourself.
Take the time to really understand how your fear “looks.” When you do this, you’ll see if there’s something you can do about it. Often, we can take action, but first, we need to stop running from fear and face it. Maybe it’s not as scary as we think it is.
In my case, I now realize I can make the choice not to run in the dark. It’s not about judging myself for that decision or feeling weak. Instead, it’s about understanding myself and being kind to myself. I don’t need to put myself in a situation where a shock is likely to happen—because I want to do good for myself. And that’s okay.
Conclusion: Easy Fear Overcoming is About Listening and Preparing
Overcoming fear can feel easier when we stop seeing it as something to bulldoze through and start seeing it as a guide. Fear isn’t an enemy—it’s a signal. It tells you when you need to pause, reflect, and prepare.
When you get to know your fear and understand what it’s trying to teach you, the process of overcoming it becomes simpler and more manageable. And remember, it’s okay to take small steps. Each step forward brings you closer to the fearless, prepared version of yourself.
So, next time you’re feeling fear, remember: You don’t have to do it afraid. You can do it prepared, and that makes all the difference.
I hope you find this helpful, and if you do, I want to congratulate you for taking a step toward becoming the future fearless achiever of your dream life. If I did it, as you can do it too. You have the power to overcome fear, not by force, but through wisdom, preparation, and self-compassion.
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