Fear...a bodily reaction of heightened awareness and increased sympathetic nervous system activity as a result of a perceived threat. In other words, if you think something might hurt you, you start to feel fear.

Part of the key to managing fear is to discern as to the degree of the perceived threat. Our tendency at times seems to create a reactionary Fictitious Event Appearing Real (F.E.A.R.) image that is not based in reality but activates our fear none-the-less.

Our mind, as wonderful as it is, has great difficulty in discerning between what is real and what is imagined. It tends to believe that it is all real and activates the "fight or flight" systems in our bodies that then prepares us to go into battle.

We are then often left "being all dressed with no where to go" because the threat was not real at all. This reaction, however, takes a toll on us in that it tears at our immune system, and provokes us to walk through life in varying degrees of unnecessary fear.

There is another F.E.A.R. that we can choose: Face Everything And Respond.

The primary difference is that this is a model of choice, and that it comes from a place of consciousness. It is the realization that your initial reaction may not be reality based.

Instead of reacting, this is a model of responding. Sometimes this is as simple as asking yourself, "Is it true?", or, "Where is the evidence?" When you begin to really look, you will often find that your initial reaction may have been more intense and irrational than necessary.

Another great question to ask yourself when you start to feel fear is, "And then what?" This allows you to play this preconceived threat through. What you will often find is that you can and will respond in a completely adaptable and appropriate manner to the stimulus. In other words, you will handle it and everything will be okay.

If there was one affirming phrase I could plant in everyone's mind, it would be, "I can handle it..." When you are able to say that to yourself as a self-intervention, even if you do not fully believe it, your mind starts to believe it. You have then begun to create a different and more positive response. In fact, you may realize that there is no threat at all.

So, you have a choice: F.E.A.R. or F.E.A.R. I know which one you desire and I support you in creating a life of freedom through conscious responsiveness and self-intervention.

Ken Donaldson has been based in Tampa Bay offering counseling, coaching, and educational programs since 1987. His REALationship Coaching programs empower people to have more successful lives, businesses and relationships by building a powerful relationship with themselves first. Visit his website at http://www.REALationshipCoach.com for more information and sign-up his free e-program Illuminations and Sparks of Brilliance. Ken is also the author of the upcoming book Marry YourSelf First!