Allow Your Fear To Move Through You
One of my favorite sections from the sci-fi classic Dune is when the main character, Paul Atreides, is discussing how he will handle his fear:
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
We typically take one of two approaches to dealing with our fear - fight or flight. We either go to war with our fear, doing anything and everything we can to conquer it or we just straight up run from it, and avoid anything in life that might produce those feelings in us. Both of those options sabotage us and keep us from acting on our values.
As it’s been said, “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”
You must embrace your fears in order to awaken to new possibilities. It is a lie that there is something “wrong with you” if you feel afraid. No. Fear simply means you’ve reached the end of your comfort zone. You now have an opportunity to lean in and grow beyond the status quo. We all feel afraid. But we don’t all choose to welcome our fear.
Of course, yes, fear might mean you’re being chased by a bear. But most of the time in our modern world, fear is a product of future tripping over things that might happen.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has a simple, yet effective way to remember how to move through big feelings like fear.
Accept your thoughts and feelings
Choose a value-based direction
Take a committed action
Rinse and repeat.
So, where are you feeling afraid today? Afraid to dream? Afraid to risk? Afraid to have an honest conversation? Afraid to leave your soul-sucking job behind? Afraid to put something creative out in the world? Afraid that your financial situation isn’t sustainable? Afraid to ask for help?
Welcome to the club.
Breathe deep. Feel the fear in your mind and body. Remind yourself that it is OK for these sensations to be present. Do not fight or run from them. Focus on what you want. And take a committed action in the direction of your goals and values. Your fear can come right along with you.
And as you do this, you might find that your fear begins to fade into the background.
Happy to be in your corner,
Tom Page, LCPC
Want to receive Transformation Tips directly to your email?
Subscribe below!
