01/18/2024
So many of us are ruled by fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of getting hurt. Fear of being judged or shunned. Etc.
Have you ever thought about why do we have fear?
I firmly believe it is because our minds are trying to keep us safe.
But what is the cost?
Being afraid of the dark can increase anxiety and stress, which releases hormones in the body. Over time, our body becomes overloaded with this anxiety and stress and can't deal with it properly while we sleep which then bleeds into our day.
High cortisol levels (stress hormone) have been linked to so many diseases, especially inflammatory ones.
Now can the dark actually hurt you? I'm not talking about something lurking in the dark - that's a separate fear.
I have put my hand in the shade of a tree and brought it back unharmed. I have sat in a pitch black room without being hurt.
So what if we could create new evidence? What if we could tell our mind that the fear, although it may be right, that good can come from leaning into that fear?
When we first learned to walk, I'm sure we feared stumbling and getting hurt. But we persisted and leaned on the encouragement of others around us. Now I can proudly say, I walk easily 2000 steps a day without coming to harm. Sometimes I even skip or run!
I overcame that fear as a child. I can overcome a different fear now as an adult.
How can you apply this same principle to a fear that is holding you back?
