Fear and Awareness Part 2

Earlier this week, I spoke of the difference between fear and awareness. I mentioned the importance of being mindful about tipping into fear and what it does to our brain and body.

That being said, I want to remind you how normal it is to experience fear.

I’ve seen some great online posts asking people to stop condemning fear. I have to agree with that! Remember, being mindful of your fear doesn’t have to include judgment (though that’s so freaking hard for us!)

Let’s be clear…Fear isn’t bad or wrong.

Because no emotion is inherently bad or good, right or wrong. The value of the emotion, if there was one, is dependent on context.

For example, while we think of joy as positive, if “joy seeking” is consistently being used as a form of escapism from other difficult feelings, it could be problematic.

Fear is a survival response. It has a time and place.

Many of us are currently experiencing fear.

So normal.

Now, is fear helping you right now? It may be! That’s the thing…we are all unique individuals.

Some depend on the adrenaline of fear, physiologically, as a catalyst for action. Maybe what you are calling “fear” is prompting you to make a decision that’s actually going to be very beneficial for yourself or others. In that case, it’s helping you.

But perhaps, your fear has taken over and is preventing mindful action. In that case, it may be hurting you.

This stuff is not black and white.

Fear does have some very real effects on the brain and the body, as referenced in my previous post, as well as effects on the collective consciousness, and I want you to be aware of the manifestations of that, so that you can better support yourself and others.

Also, in addition to fear, there is usually something that feels even scarier for us to name and process like grief or powerlessness underneath.

I invite you to get as clear as possible on the fear, so you can target support. Is it fear of isolation, loss, suffering, death? It’s usually pretty uncomfortable in there, at first. But often, once we find the source feelings, and name them—give them a voice to express—it can help alleviate the fear.