I’ve had a lot of fear in my life. I used to fear my fear. Now I understand that it comes for many reasons and sometimes it’s to help me navigate a legitimate danger. But other times fear arises when I’m choosing to go outside my comfort zone, my familiar patterns. Fear is trying to keep me “safe” but it’s also keeping me “small.” That’s when I dialogue with fear, saying thanks, I know you are here to keep me safe but I’m choosing to do things differently. I take several deep breaths and move through it. Understanding my emotions as messengers and what they are actually saying is a game changer. I highly recommend a book by Karla McLaren called The Language of Emotions.
Thank you! I can’t even begin to tell you how much this changed my life. You will not regret this purchase! I loved your comment also. It got me thinking about people who can do such amazing, death defying stunts. I have been watching some of the world champion trick snowboarding and it is mind blowing! The downhill tricks are insane also. X Games are also thrilling, edge of my seat entertainment. I can’t believe you used to do backflips on rollerblades! It’s all remarkable to me.
I agree! Such insane human accomplishments in extreme sports are a wonder to see! I'm also considering Alex Honnold and his ascent of El Capitan without any physical safety net very relevant to this conversation (movie: Free Solo).
How grounded in one's own abilities must one be to scale a death-defying 3000 vertical feet without a rope? What relationship to fear must one have? As the film shows, it takes enormous dedication, training, determination, and trust. It's crazy and inspiring.
I can’t believe you used to do backflips on rollerblades! It’s all remarkable to me.
I resonated with this article because compared to some friends, I'd be way more scared to go out of my comfort zone. The foam pit literally was the only reason why I could let go of my "What if?" and reservations. The fear was still there, but once I could reason it out ("nothing can happen!"), it's easier to "choose to do things differently", as you so well put it :)
The movie sounds inspiring, I will definitely check it out. It also occurred to me that you can go to Google Karla McLaren free Emotional Vocabulary PDF. It’s a great list of the major emotions and what they are telling you. Kind of a synopsis of the book - a great cheat sheet!
Those are you in the videos? OMG, you are SO brave! I have to confess. A few years ago my husband and I signed up for roller skating dance lessons. We were both pretty efficient back in our day but it was long ago. So after we signed up, someone approached me from behind to say hello. I was startled, turned and did a complete cartoon fall, straight up in the air and bracing my fall with my left hand (dominant hand). I broke both wrist bones. Needed surgery (pins and metal) and extensive physical therapy afterwards. My roller days are over but I can still do full push ups!
I'm curious, how did you find this? 😄 It is (correction: was) an article from January 27, 2019 without any likes on Medium. Small but thought-provoking.
I remembered that line (about conquering fear) from somewhere but I wasn't sure about the whole phrase or who said it, so I googled it. That's how I usually find articles to read (outside readup)—news or googling popups 😂
I like foam pits. One happy day in my rollerblading past I was like this boy on YouTube doing backflips in a now-demolished indoor skatepark in Roeselare, Belgium.
It’s an interesting analogy. Is inner awareness, inner strength really the same as a foam pit? Maybe. The foam pit represents the guaranteed safe landing, the safety net, quite literally.
Having a safety net provides room for failure and experimentation, which reduces fear. But I don’t think that inner strength is a perfect substitute for other concrete safety nets (social, financial, ...).
I’ve had a lot of fear in my life. I used to fear my fear. Now I understand that it comes for many reasons and sometimes it’s to help me navigate a legitimate danger. But other times fear arises when I’m choosing to go outside my comfort zone, my familiar patterns. Fear is trying to keep me “safe” but it’s also keeping me “small.” That’s when I dialogue with fear, saying thanks, I know you are here to keep me safe but I’m choosing to do things differently. I take several deep breaths and move through it. Understanding my emotions as messengers and what they are actually saying is a game changer. I highly recommend a book by Karla McLaren called The Language of Emotions.
Wise words Pegeen! Emotions are messengers 🙏 Book's on my to-read list now!
Thank you! I can’t even begin to tell you how much this changed my life. You will not regret this purchase! I loved your comment also. It got me thinking about people who can do such amazing, death defying stunts. I have been watching some of the world champion trick snowboarding and it is mind blowing! The downhill tricks are insane also. X Games are also thrilling, edge of my seat entertainment. I can’t believe you used to do backflips on rollerblades! It’s all remarkable to me.
I agree! Such insane human accomplishments in extreme sports are a wonder to see! I'm also considering Alex Honnold and his ascent of El Capitan without any physical safety net very relevant to this conversation (movie: Free Solo).
How grounded in one's own abilities must one be to scale a death-defying 3000 vertical feet without a rope? What relationship to fear must one have? As the film shows, it takes enormous dedication, training, determination, and trust. It's crazy and inspiring.
I resonated with this article because compared to some friends, I'd be way more scared to go out of my comfort zone. The foam pit literally was the only reason why I could let go of my "What if?" and reservations. The fear was still there, but once I could reason it out ("nothing can happen!"), it's easier to "choose to do things differently", as you so well put it :)
The movie sounds inspiring, I will definitely check it out. It also occurred to me that you can go to Google Karla McLaren free Emotional Vocabulary PDF. It’s a great list of the major emotions and what they are telling you. Kind of a synopsis of the book - a great cheat sheet!
Indeed! This web page that contains the PDF is now a starred read! She seems to provide some commentary there on the PDF. PS: I found back my backflip and another thrilling moment.
Those are you in the videos? OMG, you are SO brave! I have to confess. A few years ago my husband and I signed up for roller skating dance lessons. We were both pretty efficient back in our day but it was long ago. So after we signed up, someone approached me from behind to say hello. I was startled, turned and did a complete cartoon fall, straight up in the air and bracing my fall with my left hand (dominant hand). I broke both wrist bones. Needed surgery (pins and metal) and extensive physical therapy afterwards. My roller days are over but I can still do full push ups!
Much needed and appreciated micro dose this a.m.
I'm curious, how did you find this? 😄 It is (correction: was) an article from January 27, 2019 without any likes on Medium. Small but thought-provoking.
I remembered that line (about conquering fear) from somewhere but I wasn't sure about the whole phrase or who said it, so I googled it. That's how I usually find articles to read (outside readup)—news or googling popups 😂
I like foam pits. One happy day in my rollerblading past I was like this boy on YouTube doing backflips in a now-demolished indoor skatepark in Roeselare, Belgium.
It’s an interesting analogy. Is inner awareness, inner strength really the same as a foam pit? Maybe. The foam pit represents the guaranteed safe landing, the safety net, quite literally.
Having a safety net provides room for failure and experimentation, which reduces fear. But I don’t think that inner strength is a perfect substitute for other concrete safety nets (social, financial, ...).