You have to train yourself.

I gave myself a static shock opening a metal doorknob today. It was really weird and it rarely ever happens, but I noticed that soon after, I was hesitant to put my hand on another doorknob to open the next door.

It was just a slight hesitation, but it was an obvious pause in my step. I made it a point to go ahead and put my hand on the doorknob and open the door as I normally would anyway because I knew that if I didn't, terrible things would happen! I would never want to open a door with a metal doorknob ever again! How would I get anywhere?! Lol. Ok. Maybe not so dramatic, but kind of. My mind definitely went there, even if just for half a second.

It made me think of how easy it is to stop doing things for the rest of eternity because of one bad experience. I don't even want to think of how many things I've stopped pursuing because of one rejection, or one negative comment. 

So I think it's valid, even important to train yourself to be less afraid. To notice when fear is controlling your actions. To know when fear is affecting you and keeping you blocked. Don't run away from your fears. Instead, train yourself to be braver in the face of fear. Now excuse me as I go and open these damn metal doorknobs that give me static shocks sometimes.

by Jason Lam