By Wendy
Schulstad
Fear is everywhere. It always has been. But now there is mass fear about the same subject: money.
But the truth is that fear is fear, regardless of whether it’s the fear of going bankrupt, fear of walking out to your car late at night or fear of having your heart broken. It’s all the same.
All of us have known fear since the day we were born. After all, it’s a necessary component to our survival and can provide us with valuable information. Fear is not the enemy but only part of the equation. The counterpart of fear is trust. We need to survive and thrive in this world.
When I give energy to my fears—by talking about them with friends, listening to the news, or replaying them over and over in my head—I fuel them. As they become larger and more encompassing, I become consumed. In this state, I feel paralyzed and totally controlled by all that is out of my control.
So what do we do with our fear? First, ask yourself what you are most afraid of feeling. Whether your concerns are about financial loss, losing a relationship or dying, it is the emotion underneath those circumstances that truly creates the fear. Take a moment, and imagine the worst-case scenario. How would you feel if that happened?
Maybe you think this process would overcome you. And it might for a few minutes. But then you’ll remember that none of it has actually occurred. However, if the “worst” were to happen, you just allowed yourself to feel the underlying emotions connected to the scenario for a few moments, and you’re still alive. So maybe, just maybe, you would survive, even if your worst fears came true. I believe this is the path to taking our power back from fear.
Once you recognize you are fueling the flames of fear, shift your focus. Visually place your fear in a box and store it on a high shelf. You are not denying your fear. It will always be there on the shelf whenever you want to look at it. But now you have the energy to focus on what you can truly affect in your life in this present moment. And the space to trust.
Wendy Schulstad is the founder of Rustic Sage Healing Haven, a community wellness center in the heart of downtown Scottsdale at 7050 E. 5th Ave. The Haven is a transformative space that provides a safe place for people to explore their individual healing process through a variety of services, classes and workshops. Wendy is available for wellness-related speaking engagements and freelance editorial opportunities. For more information, call 480. 990.1994; visit www.rusticsagehaven.com.
|
|