How do I overcome my fear of the future and go on living life in present?

ANSWER: By facing it.

Fear is there to keep us alert and safe.When we fear, our body prepares us for battles/risks/uncertainties.

Fear -> Stress hormones-> hyperactivity -> quick decision making.

Fear is an evolutionary trait. It is basic and essential for survival.

But let me explain this to you by telling you a story.

There was a lion who feared nothing except the crowing of roosters. A chill would go down his spine whenever he heard a rooster crowing.

One day he confessed his fear to the elephant, who was greatly amused. “How can the crowing of a rooster hurt you?” he asked the lion,“Think about it!”. Just then a mosquito began circling the elephant’s head, frightening him out of his wits. “If it gets into my ear I’m doomed!” he shrieked, flailing at the insect with his trunk. Now it was the lion’s turn to feel amused.

If we could see our fears as others see them we would realize that most of our fears make no sense!

Man has countless enemies, the worst of which is fear. I say this because fear is the only virtue that we create in our own heads and then allow ourselves to be a hostage of something that doesn't even exist in the first place.

Don't mistake it with concern. Concerns have reasons. Fear is pointless. And it sucks you in like a blackhole. If you keep fighting it out, you'll perhaps win in the short run. But the same fear will venture back someday. On the other hand if you face it today, you're free forever.

Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free. ~ Jim Morrison

What you can do as of now -

• Pick a pen and a paper and make a list of what scares you. Write it down in every minuscule detail, say I am afraid I'll never be able to buy that car, I am afraid that I'll never be able to ask out that boy, I'll never be able to go to that movie next Saturday. Doing this will clear your head of unforeseen fear. We can face the fear only if we know what exactly the fear is.

• Now pick each point from the list above, and think what percentage of the remedy is in your hands. Write it down below that point. Then think about what is not in your control. Write that down too below that point.

• Now keep aside this page and pick a fresh page. Write on top "My Vision Board" . Transform your points from your fear-list into your vision board.

Fear-List -> Vision Board

I am afraid I'll never be able to buy that car -> I want that car. I am afraid that I'll never be able to ask out that boy-> I want to be with <....>. I'll never be able to go to that movie next Saturday -> I want to watch <....> movie next Saturday.

See?

Your fears can be converted into productive dreams, only if you learn to get past them. Wait. We're not done yet. Remember those points we wrote about what cannot be done?

Well, about those points, I'll say this.

Now get going, and clear off the checklist of things that can be done . Always take care of the small things and the big things will automatically fall into place.