When it comes to transforming fear, people utilize all sorts of methods to distract themselves from it.  I’m a firm believer in facing fear to overcome it. That doesn’t mean you have to walk straight into the Lion’s den first thing, right off the bat, but it does mean admitting that you’re worried about the lions and thinking about ways to shift your mindset.

The great quote by Henry Ford went, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t; you’re right.” I believe that the thoughts we think and the words we speak to ourselves can significantly impact the outcome. Just like in sports psychology, we have to focus on believing we can before we can actually do.

Let’s take a look at some affirmations that can help transform fear and shift your mindset.

Understanding Fear and Its Impact

Fear is just nature’s way of telling you to pay attention! It means something is off, there might be danger, and you might need to flee, so it helps bring your body into a heightened state of awareness.

Now, in nature, this heightened state of awareness would not last forever. It was a temporary state meant to keep you alive. But as the human brain developed, we began to develop worry, which is the fear of future events. That’s when everything went awry.

The Power of Affirmations

Where do affirmations to transform fear come into all of this? Well, when we start looking at positive affirmations, we are getting ourselves out of the fear-based brain and into the rational brain. In hostage negotiation, one of the key principles is that when emotions are high, rationale is low. So they work to reduce the level of their emotions until they can talk to the person rationally.

When you focus on affirmations to transform fear, you are intentionally bringing the level of emotionality down, talking to yourself, reminding yourself this is the 21st century, that your fear is probably just your brain giving you a little warning about some danger it perceives.

As much as I love affirmations, I love good questions even more. I like to combine them to achieve maximum effectiveness. “Is this a fear of something real or a fear of something I’ve created in my imagination?” (The question portion) “I am safe and able to handle whatever comes my way.” (The affirmation portion)  Can you see how the two work hand in hand?

My new book, Turn Your Fear into Fuel, talks a lot about questioning the reality of these sorts of fear-based thoughts. Check it out for a fear-to-fuel boost!

Empowering Affirmations to Transform Fear

I have made a list of some great affirmations that help you find courage when you need it, inner calm and trust for everything around you, some to help you take bold action, and some that help you reframe the unknown. Please, write down any of these that resonate with you somewhere visible so you can rely on them when you need to.

Affirmations to Transform Fear into Courage

1. I feel fear, and I choose to move forward anyway.
2. I am braver than I believe and stronger than I seem.
3. Fear is just energy—I direct it toward my purpose.
4. I act in spite of fear, not in the absence of it.
5. Every time I face fear, I grow more resilient.

Affirmations for Inner Calm and Trust

1. I trust myself to handle whatever comes my way.
2. I am grounded, present, and safe in this moment.
3. I let go of what I can’t control and focus on what I can.
4. My peace is more powerful than my panic.
5. With each breath, I release fear and return to trust.

Affirmations to Reframe the Unknown

1. Uncertainty is a space for creativity and growth.
2. The unknown holds possibility, not just danger.
3. I am open to learning what fear is trying to teach me.
4. I choose curiosity over control.
5. I don’t have to know everything to take the next step.

Affirmations for Bold Action

1. I was made for bold decisions and brave steps.
2. My fear is a sign that I’m on the edge of something meaningful.
3. I act with intention, not impulse.
4. Courage is my companion. Action is my choice.
5.  I use fear as fuel to do what matters most.

If you struggle with taking action when you’re afraid, Turn Your Fear into Fuel will definitely give you the steps to take as you learn to walk right through what you’re afraid of. Take bold action today!

How to Use Affirmations Effectively

Affirmations are only as powerful as the way you use them. You can’t just slap them on your mirror, mutter them under your breath once a week, and expect your fears to vanish. Like anything worthwhile, they take repetition, intention, and just a little bit of faith; not blind faith, but faith in your ability to change the way you think.

Here’s what I’ve found works best:

1. Say them out loud.
   Your brain hears your own voice differently than it hears anyone else’s. When you say something out loud, especially something positive, you’re reinforcing it in your nervous system. You’re rewiring your response to stress and fear. It’s not magic. It’s mental conditioning.
2. Say them when you’re calm, not just when you’re scared.
   Affirmations aren’t just for the heat of the moment. If you only reach for them in crisis, they’ll feel flimsy. But if you speak them daily (when things are calm), you’re building mental muscle. Then, when fear does hit, you’ve already trained your mind to respond with something other than panic.
3. Pair them with breath or movement.
   Say one with each step of your morning walk. Repeat one while you breathe deeply before a big meeting. Movement anchors words in your body. That physical connection helps your mind believe what you’re saying.
4. Use ones that feel personal.
   Don’t just parrot affirmations that sound good on Instagram. If a phrase doesn’t feel real or rooted in your life, tweak it. Make it yours. “I am safe” might not resonate with you, but “I’ve survived worse and I’m still standing” just might.
5. Combine them with questions.
   Like I said earlier, asking yourself something like “Is this fear real, or is it a story I’m telling myself?” followed by an affirmation like “I can face what’s real and release what’s imagined,” creates a one-two punch that helps bring clarity fast.

At the end of the day, affirmations are a tool. But they’re not a replacement for action. They’re the mental groundwork—the prep work that helps you face fear, not hide from it. Speak them often. Mean them deeply. Then get out there and live like you believe them.

A Word of Encouragement to Keep Your Day Moving Forward

Fear doesn’t have to control you: it can shape you, strengthen you, and even serve you, if you let it. But that transformation doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you decide to stop letting fear be the driver and start giving your mind a new direction.

Affirmations are one way to do that. They help you catch the spiral before it starts. They give you a firm footing when your emotions try to knock you off balance. Most importantly, they remind you of who you really are, not just who fear says you are.

Remember, you’re not alone in the struggle. Every person who has done something meaningful has had to transform fear into purpose. You don’t have to be fearless, you just have to be willing.

And if you need a little push? Start with your words. They just might change your world.

I’ll see you at the top!