Workshop: Overcome Your Fears and Start Living

We’ve discussed the importance of awareness as you overcome your fears and anxiety. We’ve also talked about several ways to aid in this process of self-discovery. But there is one more very important thing you can do. In fact, it’s as important as awareness.

Fears and anxiety are almost always about something that happened in the past or something that could happen in the future. But seldom is it about what is happening in your life right now. Becoming present, or focusing on this very moment, is key to overcoming your fears. Being present quiets your mind and helps you enjoy your life moment by moment without reliving the past or the fear of what could happen. In fact, this is how children live, play and enjoy life. They have not yet been conditioned to make up stories other than for pure enjoyment. But how is this done?

Start by doing this: When you notice your anxiety beginning, thus bringing awareness to it, and as you are allowing it to abide for a moment, ask yourself this question: “What is harming me right this very moment?” Say you are driving your car and a storm approaches. You begin to visualize your car being struck by lightening. Stop and ask yourself: “What is harming me right this very moment?” The answer: Nothing. You are fine regardless of the thunder and flashes of light. Perhaps you are thinking about something bad that happened in the past. Ask yourself: “What is harming me right this very moment?” The answer: Nothing. Bringing yourself to the present moment helps you separate and detach from your story making or story retelling and allows you to realize your true self.

Part of becoming present is the ability to find acceptance in what is. This means accepting what has happened in the past, accepting what is happening right now and accepting the future even though it hasn’t occurred yet. This doesn’t mean you are powerless to change your life. In fact, you become more powerful. Instead of spending your energy thinking about the past or future, you spend it solving problems should you desire a different outcome. Acceptance allows you to move past fear and to find enjoyment, creativity and a powerful agent for change.

Fear-based story telling is an addiction. By bringing awareness and acceptance each time fear and anxiety arises in you, you have the opportunity to weaken the addiction. Your mind has been conditioned and trained through years of experience to story tell and create illusionary fear. But this takes away your ability to enjoy your life and to create the life you desire. It also stops you from being who you truly are. It’s time to learn how to live again.

Let’s illustrate with a simple, but profound parable:

“Once upon a time there lived a little boy who was scared to die. He was so frightened by the unknown, he spent his whole life fearing it. One day he did die, having never experienced how it felt to live.”

Fear stops us from living our lives. It hinders us from experiencing the beauty and the joy around us. It complicates the simplicity of peace and it stops us from the things that enrich our lives. Joy is not about surviving. It’s about living.

Think about all that fear stops you from experiencing:
-- The fresh air of a morning walk
-- Strolling along the beach at sunset
-- The family vacation you’ve dreamed of
-- Camping in the woods
-- Star gazing with your little ones
-- Taking a risk just for fun
-- Finding a new job with a new challenge
-- Having true relationships without judgment
-- Experiencing true love
And much more…

Fear comes from the outside; peace comes from within. In other words, no matter what is happening around you, joy is found within you any time and any where. This is who you really are: a powerful, joyful and loving mom experiencing life in its fullest.

Love,
ceoMom 101

This concludes our Workshop on overcoming your fears. See you next month as we continue the journey of discovering your mom power.