Rising Above the Fray
Don’t know if you’ve heard…..but there’s a lot of fear going around.
Covid-19 cases are on the rise, and so is our collective fear response.
Lean in for a moment and I’ll tell you one of my fears…
If we aren’t mindful of how fear impacts our bodies and our minds, it will overrun us. Plain and simple.
Fear takes over. It hijacks us of our sensibilities. It demands our attention above our typical modes of functioning, reasoning, and taking in the world.
When we are terrified of contracting a virus and then we actually contract it, is it possible we could experience more intense illness because mentally we’ve already been thinking about the worst and most debilitating outcome? Is it possible our subconscious thoughts and expectations can affect our real, lived experience? Can our fears inhibit the functioning of our immune systems to fight off illness?
There’s a pile of research on the subconscious that would respond with a very affirmative, “Yes.” Because I’m not writing a research paper I won’t cite it all here, but Bruce Lipton’s work as a cellular biologist is a good place to start.
Do keep this in mind if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of falling ill. Confront your fear first. Then protect your energy – ask for what you need and be clear about what you don’t need – so other people’s fear doesn’t spill all over you. Be proactive about strengthening your immune system, taking the reins of your thought life, and summoning your dependable sources of positive, uplifting support.
I wonder if you’re asking, “What if the fear is legitimate?” Maybe it’s safer to stay tucked away, cozied up with my fear in a safe quarantine. Turns out the world looks pretty darn scary out there with bare-chested men running around in Viking hats. Umm…no thanks.
In response, I wonder: What existential crisis isn’t legitimate? We are having them all the time! Life is a series of existential crises strung together by random events (or serendipitous ones, depending on what camp you’re in) where we are left to make meaning as best we can and continue our evolution.
We are indeed living in a time of chaos, perpetuated by more chaos. Fear is on center stage and we are enraptured in its powerful performance.
I rarely take hard political stances, and I’m not taking one here. My highest intention is to try to consider all angles of an issue. To discern what is real and valid and what is clearly made up and false. But I have to admit… it’s getting harder and harder to tell amidst this fray.
However, I will always take a firm stance on behalf of our collective mental health and wellbeing. What I know to be true is….fear is not the answer here.
We have to find a way of addressing our fear so we can take inspired action from the seat of our wisdom.
There are so many questions being asked:
Should I get vaccinated? Is it safe? How do we know? Are people going to judge me? Can I still transmit Covid-19? Will people still think I’m a good person if I don’t post a picture of my vaccine certificate on social media? (Kidding on that one.) When can we gather with our loved ones? Will life ever return to ‘normal’?
Sloooooow down, Tiger. Breathe. Use the internal tools you’ve developed to get to a place of stillness within yourself. Expand your heart so you can feel the presence of love. Love is not only within you, it is you.
Little by little, bit by bit, inch by inch… begin to shift your awareness and your attachments from a fear-based, reactionary state. Cultivate a greater awareness of the compassionate wisdom that resides in you and has the potential to guide you in your decisions. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the complex problems we are facing.
If you’re not sure how to make this shift out of a fear-based state, here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Begin by noticing. When we are in a reactive, fear-based state our bodies have many tells. Notice where you are holding tension, how your stomach feels, your jaw, your hips, your head, your chest, and your throat. Practice daily body scans. Use your breath to release tension anywhere you notice it. For an even more fun approach, try Shaking!
- Take time each day to get grounded. Disconnect from the news, social media, podcasts, and other sources of information stimulation. Instead, direct your attention to your body and breath. Take slow, full breaths and simply notice the sensation of breathing.
- Practice Loving-Kindness meditation. Begin by cultivating the feeling of loving-kindness and direct it toward yourself. Then direct this feeling of loving-kindness outward to someone else, to the world, or to our collective consciousness.
- Get outside for a walk, jog, stroll, or hike. Make direct contact with nature. To make the most of your time, try being fully present outside without the distraction of a podcast, Audible book, or the like. In other words, leave your earbuds at home. Listen to the sounds of life all around you and tune into your internal compass.
- Identify your fear and address it head on. What are you truly afraid of? Notice the answer that comes first, then dig deeper. Confront each fear by acknowledging it and perhaps even thanking it for its desire to protect you.
- Give your fear an outlet, or a way to be expressed. Journal, write, compose a song, dance, color, or throw paint on some paper. Expressive outlets are highly creative. You can also keep it simple. Ex: If you enjoy writing, write down all the things your fear whispers to you; then write a response that is aligned with the belief you are choosing to hold instead.
Please share what other practices are working well to support you right now in making the shift out of fear and into a place of love or inner wisdom. Though this moment in time may feel isolating, you are not alone.
We were made to support each other.