How to overcome your deepest fears:
What is that holds you back most?
Is it fear of losing something close to you?
Is it fear of being embarrassed?
Is it fear of death?
Whichever kind it is, we are all plagued by fear.
I want to explain to you today what fear is, why it's real and how you can overcome it.
Is it fear of losing something close to you?
Is it fear of being embarrassed?
Is it fear of death?
Whichever kind it is, we are all plagued by fear.
I want to explain to you today what fear is, why it's real and how you can overcome it.
Let's go backwards.
Imagine you're one of your ancestors thousands of years ago.
You live in a cave and you've got yourself a jolly nice forest to chop down for firewood.
It's a particularly cold day, so you head out in search for firewood.
There's just one big problem...
Imagine you're one of your ancestors thousands of years ago.
You live in a cave and you've got yourself a jolly nice forest to chop down for firewood.
It's a particularly cold day, so you head out in search for firewood.
There's just one big problem...
There are predators in this forest; ones that wouldn't hesitate to kill you.
Tigers, bears, a dangerous predator for whichever part of the world you're in...
Meanwhile, you're chopping your wood when you hear some branches snap behind you...
Tigers, bears, a dangerous predator for whichever part of the world you're in...
Meanwhile, you're chopping your wood when you hear some branches snap behind you...
What happens to you?
Well, a tiny, almond-shaped part of your brain known as your amygdala fires up.
This is known as the fight-or-flight mechanism.
You have to decide at that moment when you turn to face the snapping of sticks.
Do I fight or do I run for my life??
Well, a tiny, almond-shaped part of your brain known as your amygdala fires up.
This is known as the fight-or-flight mechanism.
You have to decide at that moment when you turn to face the snapping of sticks.
Do I fight or do I run for my life??
Your amygdala is the part of your brain that processes these situations.
It's responsible for activating the motor network in your brain to respond appropriately in these situations.
So, how does this apply to fear today?
It's responsible for activating the motor network in your brain to respond appropriately in these situations.
So, how does this apply to fear today?
We're not all walking round in forests with the threat of death from a bear looming.
However, evolution is a slow mistress.
And our brains today share similar functionalities with our ancient ancestors.
One of which is the amygdala's function.
What does this mean?
However, evolution is a slow mistress.
And our brains today share similar functionalities with our ancient ancestors.
One of which is the amygdala's function.
What does this mean?
It means when you're stressed, your amygdala fires up... with the same intensity no matter the situation.
This ancient mechanism designed to help us escape predators is the same mechanism that fires when you've got a piano recital.
This ancient mechanism designed to help us escape predators is the same mechanism that fires when you've got a piano recital.
So, what can we do about this?
If we can harness our amygdala and process its' signals differently, we bypass fear.
Daniel Goleman puts forward the practice of Mindfulness to counter this.
If we can harness our amygdala and process its' signals differently, we bypass fear.
Daniel Goleman puts forward the practice of Mindfulness to counter this.
Mindfulness is the acceptance of the present.
It's the awareness of our surroundings and ability to moderate our emotional response.
We can achieve our goal with something known as Mindfulness Meditation.
It's the awareness of our surroundings and ability to moderate our emotional response.
We can achieve our goal with something known as Mindfulness Meditation.
When we do something, like washing the dishes, we tend to be focused on the dishes.
However, this is a great opportunity to stop and focus on you.
How do you feel in this moment?
Are you mindlessly washing the dishes or are you repressing something?
However, this is a great opportunity to stop and focus on you.
How do you feel in this moment?
Are you mindlessly washing the dishes or are you repressing something?
Mindfulness Meditation is the practice of stopping to notice our emotional response.
Your goal is not to stop thought, but to witness it.
Why?
Your goal is not to stop thought, but to witness it.
Why?
Before a signal gets transmitted to your amygdala for fight-or-flight, it passes through your neocortex.
This is your "thinking" part of your brain.
Mindfulness Meditation practices activating your neocortex.
This is your "thinking" part of your brain.
Mindfulness Meditation practices activating your neocortex.
Doing this gives you greater control over what fear is and what you allow to make you scared.
So, next time you've got a second to yourself, do this:
1. Pause
2. Focus on your breathing
3. Focus on the thoughts passing through
4. Observe your surroundings
So, next time you've got a second to yourself, do this:
1. Pause
2. Focus on your breathing
3. Focus on the thoughts passing through
4. Observe your surroundings
Fear isn't something wrong with you.
It's a deep-rooted, ancient biological mechanism we all possess.
It has its' uses, but there aren't bears walking the streets anymore.
It's time we learn how to tame it.
It's a deep-rooted, ancient biological mechanism we all possess.
It has its' uses, but there aren't bears walking the streets anymore.
It's time we learn how to tame it.
Thanks for reading.
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Have a wonderful day, folks.
If you enjoyed this one, follow me @TheWritersGift
If you want to help spread the word, click the link below to the first tweet and RT
Have a wonderful day, folks.
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