Achieving and facing your fear.

During primary school I remember all the girls doing handstands and cart-wheels all over the grass at playtime. Apart from me. I was too scared to do them after breaking my wrist in year 2. I'd be the only one not doing them, because I could not face my fear. 

I went through Primary and High School not being able to face my fear, even in PE when we did Gymnastics I could never do them, for I was too scared my wrist's would not take my body weight and it would snap. Sounds silly right? It may sound silly, and yes I think it does too now I sit down and think about it.

Fear's develop often when you create an image in your mind and your body tells your brain you can not do it. I know this first hand from experience of being a dancer. The more you tell your brain you can not do anything the more your fear develops and you end up not believing in yourself. You end up finding your doubting yourself and your under confident.

I came to University at the Royal Academy of  Dance studying a BA (Hons) in Ballet Education. I did not think in  a million years I would have to face my fear of handstand's. During class one week my teacher (who's amazing) was teaching a combo to the class and demonstrating the routine.

 "A 5..6..7..8.. handstand, fall back sit on the floor and roll over your stomach like so".

My first thoughts were "OHHHHH MYYYY !!!! I want to cry". It came to practising it ourselves and the rest of my class threw themselves into it without any fear what so ever. I stood being the only one unable to do it. During that lesson I broke my fear, but keeping it small at first. 

Now today after 15 or so weeks of doing handstands in my contemporary class, my fear is fading away and I have managed to gain more height in the handstand and I've managed to decrease my fear.

Getting over fears takes time because you brain is a powerful thing and most of the time we have our minds set that we can not do something. To face my fear I had to tell myself "I can do this". Start believing in yourself, easier said than done I know but start climbing the ladder to facing your fear and you've already made an Achievement!

To see my handstand now check out my Instagram ---- @alanaclark96

Feel free to leave a comment below too!

Alana!