Tigers and Bears

If I got scared when I was little, my mom would tell me to think of tigers instead of bears. She said that your brain can not think of two things at the same time so if you are afraid of bears think of tigers, and your brain can't think of the bears. As a result, you won't feel afraid.

I remember spending a lot of time thinking that both tigers and bears are scary. Why didn't she say if you are afraid of bears think of kitty cats? Guess what....it worked. In thinking of why she said what she said, my brain couldn't think about whatever I was afraid of, and I no longer felt afraid.

I use this same concept as an adult. When I am feeling stress or fear about something, I focus on something positive. It works. As soon as I feel less stress or fear I am in a better place to make a positive choice about anything on my mind.

P.S. Reminder: Call your mother.....:)

Stronger Voice

Recently I had a very difficult decision to make. After giving it careful consideration I realized that ultimately I knew what I wanted, but I was allowing my fear to keep me from following my heart.

I decided to gently re-mind myself that there was really nothing to fear in this situation, but everytime I used my peaceful, gentle voice to re-mind myself I felt like a yoyo being pulled back and forth between my gentle re-minder and my fear. Inside my head it sounded something like....

Gentle Re-minder: "There is nothing to fear. Everything is in order."

Fear: "You're crazy. You're making a big mistake."

Finally I realized that the gentle re-minder wasn't doing the trick. What I needed was a strong boundary with my fear. I changed my approach by raising my tone of voice. Everytime I felt the fear, stress or shame I started to say as if speaking directly to it, "STOP! I don't need your opinion. Leave me alone!"

It worked! Almost immediately I felt the stress fall away. I felt peace. I felt centered in my clarity to follow my heart.

Best Medicine

I saw a very funny movie last night, and it was such a great re-minder....
truly, laughter IS the best medicine. Those endorphins are Life's sweet gift!

It re-mindz me of what it says on "The Secret" about how important it is to re-member to consciously choose to do things that include laughter and joyful feelings. Comedy is such an easy, wonderful way to do that. Cuts right through stress! What is your favorite comedy?

The Hurry Habit

Slow down to go fast....

Hurry easily becomes a habit in our fast and furious society. Slowing down can be a challenge partly because in slowing down we must exercise our "no muscle." We must learn to say no to the things that get us going so quickly that we lose our peace and serenity.

It is fear that propels us to hurry. Fear that we won't get it finished, that we won't get enough or be enough. Fear of.....

Let go of your fear and become poised in knowing your greatness.

"Remember that poise and power are inseperably associated." - Wallace D. Wattles

Double Duty Gratitude (fear - part 3)

Gratitude is to fear as aloe and sun screen are to the sun burn. It's a good idea to apply plenty of gratitude to your life before you are exposed to too much "heat." But if you find your self with a "fear burn" gratitude acts as the aloe solution, too! Apply gratitude liberally to the burn and feel the cooling sensation soothe your soul.

Fear? Breathe! (part 2)

"Fear is only excitement without the breath."
- Robert Heller

Our breath is connected to the way our brain releases certain chemicals in our brains. Breathing in and out through our mouth releases adrenaline that signals our body to react to situations such as danger or the need for quick action.

When we can identify that we are having fear and we wish to let it go, adrenaline is not what we want. Instead, breathing in and out slowly and deeply through our nose signals the brain to relax.

Have fear? Breathe!

Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself

FDR's statement, "There is nothing to fear but fear itself," is true in every aspect of our lives. If in fact all we have to fear is the fear itself and not how to pay the bills, get the job, deal with the health issue or __(fill in the blank)__then what do we do about fear?

You are probably aware of and possibly using some strategies to deal with fear already. Some of these strategies may be constructive - some not so constructive.

Among the not so constructive stratagies we find things like over eating, over spending, over drinking and even over exercising just to name a few. Noticing these behaviors signals a need for constructive strategies.

Many of the constructive strategies start with daily disciplines in each of three catagories, body, mind and spirit - balanced exercise, reading positive material, or meditation.

What are some of the strategies you use? What are some that work for you? What are some that don't work for you? What are new strategies you might consider incorporating?