In life, there are going to be situations where your fears are brought right out in front of you. Everyone has to tackle these, even if it can seem at times as if you’re the only one. However, the key is not to run from your fears. You need to face them so you can overcome them and move forward in your life. Here are four common fears and how to confront them in healthy ways.

The Dentist

A lot of people have a fear of the dentist. Of course, as medical professionals, dentists are usually nice and easy to talk to. However, people fear the pain associated with certain procedures. Luckily, there are ways to mitigate this, including meditation, counseling, or even discussing it with your dentist. For more invasive treatments (such as oral surgery or dental implants), sedation is another method for dealing with this fear. You can go under and not feel a thing. By the time you wake up, all the hard work is done and you’re free to go about your day.

Dating

If you want to get more out of your love life, then you need to face one major fear. It is called the fear of rejection. There is no shortcut to overcome it. However, if you go out and talk to enough people, you will eventually build a thick skin. Treat it as a game. Each time you fail, you’re really just getting great feedback to help you find that special one.

Public Speaking

For many, speaking to an audience is the stuff of nightmares. It is particularly scary if you don’t know what you’re doing. The key is to take some classes or have some practice in an environment that is nonjudgmental. This will allow you to learn useful insights about your strengths and weaknesses as a public speaker, as well as gain experience speaking in front of others in a less threatening atmosphere.

Interviewing

Who doesn’t want to land their dream job? It’s a primary goal for almost anyone. Sometimes, however, the interview portion can stand in your way. Try practicing answering questions that are common in interviews, many of which can be found online. It’s best to do this with a trusted family member of friend. This type of role playing will give you experience and boost your confidence.

When it comes to getting the most out of life, you need to overcome you fears. When you define them and find ways to deal with them, they hold a lot less power over you. Then, you are free to take your life to the next level. You can start enjoying more of the everyday things around you without feeling as if you are missing out. So put the tips above to use. Then, you can have more success in whatever area of life you want.