Fear is a primeval emotion that we have had for a long time. It is this emotion that has resulted in the survival of the human race. Fear of a larger animal, a raging rapid or another human being who is stronger has caused our hormones to trigger the "fight or flight" response.

The only types of fear that one is born with are - fear of falling - fear of loud sounds - fear of abandonment

We know this because if one makes a loud noise, a baby gets startled and cries. If he is allowed to fall through a distance, he is likely to cry even if there is no actual impact. Even before a baby can actually hone his senses to perceive the world around him, these fears are present in him instinctively.

However, there are many categories of fears that are acquired. Most of them are either passed on to us by our parents and elders or acquired due to certain circumstances that we may have gone through.

For example, if a child sees his mother shriek every time she sees a cockroach, the child is likely to adopt the fear himself. On the other hand, if someone experiences failure every time he tries something new, he is likely to develop a fear of attempting new things.

Fear is a useful emotion and, if channeled properly, can actually lead to success. To be able to use this emotion in a positive manner, overcoming fear is essential. You need to be able to control your fear in a manner so as not to let it become all-encompassing.

Fear that takes over an individual's life can lead to irritation, anxiety attacks, phobias, irrational behavior and depression. Such fear can stifle growth, retard potential growth and warp an objective view of the world.

There are many kinds of fears. These can be as extreme as phobias. An individual can have fear towards a specific thing like ghosts, dogs, water or something else.

There are yet other fears, like the fear of speaking to strangers, starting something new, public speaking, flying and many more. Even though the list of fears can be endless and a particular fear may have different meanings and manifestations for each individual, the strategies that can be used to overcome fear are fairly similar.

The first step towards overcoming fear is to understand the core from which the fear emanates. A certain amount of meditation and self-evaluation is critical. What you need to understand is the origin of the fear. Does the fear come from something someone has told you? Does it come due to some of your past experiences? Once you know the root cause, you can begin trying to work towards overcoming the specific fear.

One of the aspects of identifying your fear is being objective and true to yourself. You can try to examine the beliefs that you have that lead you to a certain fear. For example, if you are afraid of making presentations to a group of people and feel that you will not be appreciated by them, try making an attempt.

If you come out with flying colors, you'll know that your fears were baseless. Even if you do not perform well, you'll know that you need to work on your presentation skills so that you can do better next time. In either case, you will have taken the first step required in the process of overcoming fear.

Saying that you should face your fears is obviously far easier than actually doing it. But what can be extremely useful until the time you are ready to take that first step is "positive self-talk."

Be your own motivator and tell yourself that you have it in you to do it. Look at the positive aspects of your life (and there are bound to be many) and make yourself believe that you can overcome whatever hurdles that you are facing. Overcoming fear will be much easier if you are determined to defeat it.

In this process, if the fear is keeping you from achieving something that you really want, try to focus on the reward. For example, in the above-mentioned case, if you know that a loan approval by the bank depends on how well you can impress them with your entrepreneurial idea, you should focus on the fruits of a presentation well made and keep doubts and tribulations away.

Even with all this, a basic acceptance of your fear is a must before you start on your journey to overcoming fear. Don't live in the future-or the past, for that matter. It is the past that brings up thoughts about what can happen to you in the future. And these are thoughts that create fear.

So, on your way to overcoming fear you need to understand that identifying the root cause and then being dogged about overcoming fear is what will ensure that you are victorious in the end.