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
Not all fear is negative. The fear generated by our body’s primal reaction to danger sets off protective physical and emotional triggers that can help us move out of an immediately dire situation. Unfortunately, generalized fear or anxious fear of “something” can be an insidious process that creates stress, anxiety, and the inability to take action. It can end up compromising how we live our lives and keeping us stuck in the cycle of fear and anxiety.
We have heard over and over the truism “love conquers all”. Stepping forward into a more mindful life, positive frame of mind, and action-oriented lifestyle are precisely some of the steps to invite more love into your life and start conquering the fear.
Releasing the past. A major step in replacing fear with love is letting go of the past. This is a huge act of courage and self-love. Our fears can haunt us, literally. As we replay traumatic situations, or allow our anxieties to create movies in our brains, our mind becomes consumed with the fear. Deepak Chopra shares a meditation technique to begin the shift from fear to love:
Just for a moment, ask yourself, What would I be afraid of if I didn’t have a past? The answer is evident: nothing. Fear is the product of memory, which dwells in the past. Remembering what hurt us before, we put our energy into making certain that an old hurt will not repeat itself.
Keep in mind that moving from fear to love is most often a gradual process of remembering and forgetting and then remembering again. For a few moments, a few days, or longer, we remember that who we really are is love. Then some old conditioning reasserts itself, we forget who we are, and we find ourselves immersed in anxious thoughts about the future. As you go through these natural cycles, a technique from meditation is invaluable: As soon as you’re aware that you’re acting from fear or telling yourself stories about the future that create feelings of anxiety, simply notice what you’re doing, without judging yourself or getting caught up in yet another round of stories. There’s no need to force or concentrate. Just observe yourself. See yourself, notice what your body and breath are doing, watch your behavior, hear your tone of voice − all of it. Then ask yourself, Who is it that is observing all this? That is your core self, your quiet center that exists outside of and independent of your fear.
Do what makes you feel good. Our bodies are naturally disposed to feeling good through a hormone called oxytocin. Feelings of love for partners, family, children, friends, even pets cause the release of Oxytocin. Physical intimacy, hugs, and holding hands are also ways to stimulate oxytocin.
Oxytocin does more than make us feel good. It lowers the levels of stress hormones in the body, reducing blood pressure, improving mood, increasing tolerance for pain and perhaps even speeding how fast wounds heal. It also seems to play an important role in our relationships. It’s been linked, for example, to how much we trust others. NIH
Say “No” to fear and “Yes” to love. Shifting negative patterns and anxiety habits begin with a yes to love. Make the commitment to yourself and those who love you to step out of fear, take positive action, and create the life that you truly want. What IS your heart’s desire? Fill up on the planning and actions needed to achieve your heart’s desire.
Ask for help. Isolation keeps love out; surround yourself with those that make you feel good and support a present, mindful lifestyle.
Start Now. There is no time like the present and taking action invites positive reinforcement and commitment. Change does not happen overnight, so begin with small steps to replace fearful moments with love.
Over and over within our Empowerment Seminars, we see people react to activities like board breaking and fire walking with fear. We encourage participants to step through their fear and see what happens. Over and over, we are rewarded with laughter, tears of happiness, and people embracing the “I can do it!” mindset. Your brain has to be reprogrammed so we can shift our lives and really step into love.
Contact Fire Power Seminars today to discuss empowerment seminars that overcome fears and achieve success!
Karen PfefferKaren is passionate about sharing powerful programs on communication, empowerment, team building and transformation. With a father from Kansas and a mother from Puerto Rico, Karen has a unique cultural mix that has inspired her to challenge stereotypes and “push the envelope” at every opportunity. She co-founded Fire Power Seminars with Connie Phelan in 2006 to empower individuals, organizations, and companies to achieve more than they ever thought possible.