Blog - Face Your Fears | Mona Benjamintz

Two metal, interlocked gear wheels, with the left wheel moving counter-clockwise and labelled “OLD WAY” and the right wheel moving clockwise and labelled “NEW WAY”. Implies changing from the old to a new way. Image by EtiAmmos (iStock). Used for Fear of Change - Responding to Change.

Fear of Change, Part 2: Responding to Change

Posted on 21 Jun, 2021 in Face Your Fears 2 Comments

I worked at a tech company for four years until I was impacted by of a round of layoffs. I’ll never forget that unsettling feeling I had...

Image used for post Fear of change - creating change: White person’s fingers holding a small paper sign amidst the background of a rolling green hill with trees and a blue sky with some white clouds. Writing on the paper sign reads “If you change nothing, nothing will change”. Image by Coompia77 (iStock)

Fear of Change, Part 1: Creating Change

Posted on 14 Jun, 2021 in Face Your Fears 2 Comments

I remember searching for a new apartment when I was in my thirties. I buzzed the manager suite at a building that looked promising. An older gentleman...

Young school girl with long brown hair worn in pig tails, wearing white blouse and dark jumper sitting at school desk, with pen in hand and a notebook on the desk. Photo views her from behind. She is diligently writing in her note book. Image by Zinkevych (iStock).

Why Fear Loves Distractions

Posted on 31 May, 2021 in Face Your Fears 2 Comments

When I was in grade eight, I exhibited a compulsive behaviour. I created simple to do lists of tasks that I would have done anyway, for the...

Orange painted question mark on sidewalk, with feet in blue running shoes and leg in jeans shown as photo taken from point of view of standing on the sidewalk looking down at the sidewalk. Given that the question mark is a small metal square and that there were nearby painted markings, presumably the question mark was painted by a city surveyor. Image by Mona Benjamintz.

Accepting Uncertainty: Letting Go of the Need to Know

Posted on 17 May, 2021 in Face Your Fears 2 Comments

I came upon a question mark painted on the sidewalk during my morning walk today. Given the proximity of other nearby markings, I suspect that a city...

Young woman with long brown hair and sunglasses, wearing jeans, a sweatshirt and a knapsack is pulling a small rolling luggage case while waving her hand at a trolley and running to catch the trolley, outdoors, in a sunny day in a city. Image by MangoStar_Studio (iStock).

Change Your Habits to Reduce Your Stress

Posted on 03 May, 2021 in Face Your Fears 0 Comments

When I was in my twenties, I had a job working at a laboratory, testing anti-corrosion paints. Each weekday evening, I laid out a blouse and jeans...

A woman (Mona Benjamintz) wearing orange jacket, jeans and a toque walking toward the viewer. Mona is walking on a sidewalk in a residential neighbourhood past houses, trees and under a blue sky on a sunny day. Image credit: Mona Benjamintz

The Benefits of Flipping Your Perspective

Posted on 19 Apr, 2021 in Face Your Fears 0 Comments

Like many during this pandemic, I’ve taken to walking in my neighbourhood to get some fresh air and exercise. I usually prefer walking in a loop so...

Open, coil-bound journal with pen beside it, sitting on wooden desk next to cup of coffee with a biscuit on the saucer. Table is lit from natural light from a window. Image credit: time99lek (iStock).

How to Develop Self-Awareness (Part 3): Journaling

Posted on 05 Apr, 2021 in Face Your Fears 0 Comments

When I was in my thirties, I saw a therapist for the first time. The reason I stepped into therapy was because of unbearable work stress I...

Young Chinese man wearing casual red striped t-shirt, standing in front of plain white background, looking thoughtfully upwards to his right, with one hand on his chin and other arm across his lower chest. Image credit: AaronAmat (iStock). Image used for faceyourfears.ca blog post “How to Develop Self-Awareness (Part 2): Meditation.”

How to Develop Self-Awareness (Part 2): Meditation

Posted on 22 Mar, 2021 in Face Your Fears 0 Comments

In my previous post, I described that observing, noticing and listening to yourself are how you develop self-awareness. But how do you train your brain to slow...

Black man wearing white dress shirt looking pensively and skeptically to his right with hand on chin, as if in deep contemplation. Image by Deagreez (iStock).

How to Develop Self-Awareness (Part 1)

Posted on 08 Mar, 2021 in Face Your Fears 1 Comment

Self-awareness helps us create and manage change and helps us face our fears. Self-awareness is essential to growth. But how do you develop self-awareness? To develop self-awareness, start...

White male hands reaching for each other implying asking and providing help. White background. Image by reklamlar (iStock).

Fear of Asking for Help: What Will They Think?

Posted on 22 Feb, 2021 in Face Your Fears 0 Comments

Are you afraid to ask someone for help because you think that you’re not supposed to need any help? Maybe you’re experiencing perfectionist tendencies and wondering, “What...