Fearing Fear
The ability to be afraid is awesome. The main reason that my ancestors managed to remain alive after they left the cave is due to this feeling. I thank the raising goosebumps on the back of my neck when they occur because they are innate. They are my built-in warning system that something is afoot and I need to start paying better attention. Stat.
Fear is not neutral
The equal opportunity emotion named fear comes with the human package. The difference is what we do with it. It can come in handy if it does not slow down the thinking process. It can also expedite the outrageous thought spiraling that just scrolls and scrolls like a poor Internet connection. The trick is to get past the initial obstacle and take hold of the situation to start the creative process. Once the discovery factory is thinking alternative thoughts, more possibilities appear like magic.
Light up the fear
Fear feels dark. It feels confining. It makes us tighten up and stop moving. If I can realize early on that fear is taking over the blood flow, I can also open up and start to breath deeply enough to give myself the chance to break that sequence. When the light enters, I can see the other opportunities that have been hiding from me. It amazes me that they were there all along just waiting for me to flick the switch. It’s a super power we all have in mega supply, but it is underutilized.
Change the light
When I enter a well lit area, it grabs my attention. The subtle change from what may be considered an acceptable amount of lumens and what startles my senses is not a great deal but it is noticeable. I just need to open my eyes and look around. Challenging what hides around the fear closet creates different ideas. There is no reason to believe that my creativity won’t enjoy the chance to clean out the remnants that have been lurking there. Of all the things to force us into action, don’t let fear make you move quickly. Surprise it and wait for it.
What are you really fearing right now? What long standing fear has been with you so long, it has become a part of you? Could you be fearless?
