We have all felt that paralysis that comes with fear. That feeling that you are powerless and rooted to the spot. During this time of the global pandemic, when so much feels out of our control and anxiety is at an all time high, it can be easy to feel disengaged from your own power. Many of us are rewatching the same movies over again, simply because we can only handle watching something where we know what the ending will be already. It’s a core need to feel safe, and that some things in our life are still predictable.
Fear is the most oppressive of human emotions, and can feel like the hardest to tackle. Anxiety among Millennials is the most sited mental health issue. Globally, 1 in 14 of us are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. It’s not ideal and there are definitely techniques, decisions and mindsets we can use to push through and build a life that we are proud of.
What can we do to overcome fear? When you feel it, decide to move forward any way you can. Experts recommend doing 3 things.
- Mediate. Meditating quiets the part of your brain called the amygdala, which regulates fear, anxiety and stress. Meditating will calm your racing thoughts, and help you see the picture more clearly. If you want to learn how to meditate, you can book a session with Kahli Guide Jag.
- Choose a course of action. Weigh up your options, and decide on the kind of life you want to live and the kind of person you want to be. The best decisions are made from a place of love, not a place of fear.
- Act. Move forward. Anyone can sit at home weighing up the pro and cons of what they should do next, and feel anxiety as to where their next move will take them. But the most fulfilled, interesting, and authentic people are continuously moving forward (and sometimes back!) in life. Trust the process of life and that by choosing action, you are safe.
There’s a saying that a bird sitting on a tree isn’t scared of the branch breaking, because her trust isn’t on the branch, but of her wings. No matter what happens next you will have the resiliency and inner resources to navigate your own path. So the next time you feel fear, sit with yourself in meditation, decide a course of action, and take that step forward.
