Fear….

• Fear can sometimes be a motivating factor
such as, running from danger. Fear of pain, injury or death propels us with a rush of energy to escape any perceived danger. But for most….

• fear can be debilitating and crippling.
How does one not allow fear to hold you captive? What future action is on hold due to your fear(s)? What would you move toward if you could remove your fear?

• Fear most times is not grounded in reality.

This acrostic is a great reminder:

 

F – False
E – Evidence
A – Appearing
R – Real

• In our imaginations, our fears morph into a real threat.

We then begin to spin stories around this perceived threat and give fear permission to set up shop in our minds. Have you ever played the “what if” game? If your spouse or child is late coming home, you begin the “what ifs.” “What if“ they had an accident? Or “what if” I mess up the presentation or disappoint my boss, then what? Do you see how conjecture and imagination gang up on you to hijack your mind? With all this overthinking taking place, it can be very tough to stay in reality with the facts as you know them. Overthinking allows the mind to create scenarios that could take place but many times do not.

• This sense of heightened emotions can steal our peace and our sense of safety.

When this occurs, ask yourself, is what I am thinking, true? Are my thoughts based on my feelings or are there facts surrounding this event or thought? In these moments, ask yourself; What could I do to relax and center myself on what I know to be true. Fight against allowing your mind to conjure up such disturbing and frightening stories.

• You are in control of your thoughts.

Speak truth to yourself and disarm the armies of “what ifs” that could flood your mind. It is up to you what you allow yourself to think about. This is not always easy to do but will need practice. Over time you can learn to “catch” these thoughts when they first enter your consciousness. Dispute them, and center yourself on the reality of your circumstances.

• There is hope.

You can master your thoughts with practice and determination. You do not need to live in constant fear and anxiety. Learn more in future posts as we explore more ways to combat fear.

 

“Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.” –Thich Nhat Hanh