'Fraid Not

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Spiders, heights, public speaking—we can often conquer (or at least cope with) these all-too-tangible fears. But unlike concrete phobias, our deeper worries—of losing those we love, of failure and even of success—can render us restless night after night. We asked Thom Rutledge, author of Embracing Fear: How to Turn What Scares Us Into Our Greatest Gift, to share his advice for managing the really scary stuff.

Fear of Change

"We humans are an interesting study," says Rutledge. "We're especially afraid of uncertainty, but the only thing certain about life is change. As a friend of mine says, 'Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.'"

While we can't fully purge the pessimistic thoughts that can pop up the moment we face change, Rutledge says it's important to stay optimistic and focus on the benefits of change: a chance to grow, face new challenges, and get somewhere better on our lives. "Think of it this way," he says. "We cannot exorcise fear, so we must exercise courage."