#overcoming fears

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Hello!

So, even as a snake lover, I can understand that a fear of snakes is a normal, natural response. Same with spiders and other things that are common phobias! So for my first step, I want to stress this to you: don’t beat yourself up over it!

Next two steps are a do together thing; learn some stuff and exposure.

- If you can, find somewhere that you can be around snakes in a controlled environment. This can be places like museums, all the way to breeders, reputable pet stores, reptile enthusiasts, friends who would be patient and let you be in the room with and maybe eventually hold them when you feel comfy etc. There’s a lot of YouTube and TikTok accounts that are dedicated to things like advanced husbandry, where you can see the care that goes into caring for animals without the focus being directly on the animals themselves.

- Follow blogs on tumblr (👀👋🏻) where you can see people talking about their pets and the love they give to them. Even seeing the videos and pictures will gradually help to desensitise you. There’s tons of good reptiblrs (too many for me to remember right now sorry!) that can give you some good insight into the day to day lives of our little weird creatures.

- Once you’re comfortable enough, learn about them. Did you know that ball pythons are called that in the US because they curl into a ball when they’re spooked? When tarantulas are scared, they sometimes pull their legs over their eyes to hide them too.

Also remember: you’re way bigger and way scarier than they are!

Small snakes like hognoses will thrash around and inflate themselves and HISS and bonk themselves at you and sometimes flip themselves upside down to pretend to play dead, and that’s because you’re big and spooky.

Tarantulas will do something called “kicking hairs” where they stick their little booties up in the air and smack them with their back feet to kick specialised hair to make you leave them alone by making you itchy. That’s because you’re HUUUUGE and they’re just little guys.

While ball pythons aren’t a beginner species to keep necessarily due to their husbandry, they are a pretty good species to be introduced to as a first snake; they’re slow moving, hefty little curious creatures with the silliest puppy dog faces and well socialised balls are extremely handleable.

If for whatever reason you do get bitten by a small snake that’s a constrictor (like a ball python, or corn snake) then it’s very easy to get them off by smearing hand sanitizer on their mouths. It doesn’t hurt the snake (just tastes gross), and the bite doesn’t hurt you either too much - it feels a lot like you’ve been attacked by angry Velcro.

I hope you get past your fears, anon - please be patient with yourself! ❤️

Tonka the ball python is wishing you luck from his hide!

Embracing fear and taking calculated risks are essential components of a fulfilling and purposeful life. They empower you to grow, evolve, and thrive in the face of uncertainty, ultimately leading to greater self-discovery, resilience, and happiness. So, dare to challenge your fears, seize opportunities, and embrace the journey of self-discovery with courage and determination!

The Role of Fear in Hindering Confidence:

Fear is a natural and powerful emotion that can often act as an obstacle to self-confidence and growth. It manifests itself in various forms: from the fear of failure and rejection to the fear of the unknown and the fear of going beyond our comfort zone. When we let fear hold us back, it limits our potential and prevents us from exploring new opportunities and experiences.

Fear undermines self-confidence, generating self-doubt and negative self-talk. Fear convinces us that we are not capable or unworthy of success, prompting us to act cautiously and avoid risks. However, it is important to understand that fear is a normal reaction to the unfamiliar, and it can be overcome by showing courage and determination.

Tips for Facing Fears and Taking Calculated Risks:

Identify and Acknowledge Your Fears: Start by identifying specific fears that are holding you back. Write them down and acknowledge their existence without judgment. Understanding your fears is the first step towards conquering them.

Challenge Negative Thoughts: Practice reframing negative thoughts associated with fear. Replace self-limiting beliefs with affirmations of courage and resilience. Visualize yourself overcoming obstacles and succeeding despite challenges.

Start Small: Gradually expose yourself to situations that trigger fear in manageable doses. Take incremental steps outside your comfort zone to build confidence and desensitize yourself to fear-inducing scenarios.

Develop a Growth Mindset: Embrace a growth mindset by viewing challenges as opportunities for learning and growth. Adopt a positive attitude towards setbacks and failures, recognizing them as stepping stones to success.

Seek Support and Encouragement: Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, family, or mentors who encourage and uplift you. Share your fears and aspirations with trusted individuals who can offer guidance and perspective.

Set Realistic Goals: Break down daunting tasks into smaller, achievable goals. Celebrate each milestone along the way, building momentum and confidence as you progress towards your objectives.

Practice Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Incorporate mindfulness practices and relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, to manage anxiety and cultivate inner calmness in the face of fear.

The other day I was thinking about those psychological barriers we put on ourselves called comfort zones. Those areas or events which we feel good when we are there. The comfort zone is our safe place. It is where we feel warm and fuzzy. Nothing can happen to us when we are in our comfort zone. Get A Printable and An Editable Planner For Free. The Planner Includes A Gratitude Pad And Journaling…

let’s talk about what is our shadow self and how it affects us. The shadow is dark because we are made of both light and dark aspects. Carl Jung describes it as the unconscious and disowned parts of our personalities that ego fails to see, acknowledge and accept. When we depend on our caregivers, we suppress the aspects that are disapproved and exaggerate the ones that are approved.

For example a Little kid crying and his father telling him to not cry bc that’s not a man thing, so the kid will suppress that feeling into his shadow self and grow acting though.

It doesn’t necessarily needs to be from your caregivers, maybe from a friend, a teacher, or even someone on the Street, we bottle it up and throw it on our shadow self.

But the shadow isn’t always just negative, in the shadow is also so much potential, gifts and talents that haven´t been unhearted yet, that has been suppressed.

For example a girl that was born with a strong sense of self, but she grew up in a family where she was constantly told to shut up, eventually she grew being quiet and shy, but she feels being that way is so painful. She has suppressed her true self, which has so much potential in so many things

To be able to heal our shadow selves we can do shadow work, it might be uncomfortable, painful, sad and many other feelings, but those feelings are necessary to heal, the healing path is not always roses and sweets, but also feeling sad and face ourselves. This is a sign for you to do shadow work! You deserve happiness and be your true self! Who knows? Probably you have lots of potential on something hidden there <3!

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