Can we talk about fear?
We act as if the people that achieve many things...seem to be "on it"...take chances, and move through the world with apparent ease...feel no fear.
.
Feel no fear?!
That's probably one of the the biggest lies out there. We all feel fear. Maybe it's more about our interpretation of it and how we manage it when it comes along. I don't know. What do you think?
I bucket fear into two categories, or maybe not the fear itself...but rather...the way we can manage it.
The first bucket?
Probably pretty common, is to feel fear and treat it like a "stop sign". "It must be bad to do this thing" if you're feeling fear, and yet we know that fear is a natural response. When you want to do something different, when you want to do something new, when you decide to make a change...fear will normally come up...because that's how we're manufactured. Our brain wants to keep us safe. When you want to do something new, the alarm bells go off. Let's face it...it's not very convenient at all. When we normalize this and understand that that's just a process that everyone goes through, it can totally open the door to new opportunities, to mobilize fear differently.
The second bucket?
To look at fear as if it's a gateway. When you look at it that way, it suddenly becomes very different. My approach to it shifts, and I'm able to see the opportunity behind the fear. It takes practice because it's working against nature. I try to remember this and reframe fear when it comes along because let's face it, if we back off every time we feel fear how boring would our lives be?
Just to be clear...you do know that I don't have it all figured out. I'm just a person like you. Maybe all of this is obvious to you, but not so obvious to people around you. So while I juggle some fear right now, knowing that it really will be okay, I'm telling my brain to do the work, do the preparation and it'll work out. I will still get that feeling in my chest and stomach...and I will choose to look at that as a reminder... a reminder that this is a gateway...not a stop sign.
How about you? How do you manage your fear? What tricks and tips can you share? I'd love to hear from you. It's nice to know you're out there!
Are you ready?
Let's get to it...
Your challenge...
Like I said, I'm no expert, I just know the things that work for me and I'm here to share. Take it or leave it.
So for this week, I want you to explore:
What is your first response when you feel fear?
The stop sign?
The gateway?
Your thing?
When you reframe the way you respond to fear, you may find that it works for you...not against you.
Have a wonderful week.
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Cheers,
Ann
Can we talk about fear?