Tony Fahkry's Blog - Posts Tagged "fear"
Fear Is Your Best Friend
“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.” - Jim Morrison
A Mind-Made Illusion
In his book Influence Science and Practice, author Robert Cialdini shares a story capturing the transformative essence of fear. In a tribe in southern Africa, the Thonga people hold an annual initiation for young boys prior to becoming a man. A young Thonga boy must endure a series of intense physical challenges before he is admitted to adulthood.
The three-month ritual consists of six major trials: beatings, exposure to cold, thirst, eating of unsavoury foods, punishment and the threat of death. As bizarre as some of these rituals may sound, the young boy emerges a man and in doing so has learned to silence his inner demon – fear.
Whilst the idea of spending three months subjected to mental, emotional and physical hardship might seem harsh, consider that many of these young boys become strong and powerful leaders within their tribes. This story illustrates how fear, despite the brutality of the ritual, can be channelled toward personal growth.
In civilised society fear impairs the lives of many who buy into the notion that fear is real. It was the French philosopher René Descartes who said, “I think therefore I am.” In other words if there are thoughts, there must be a thinker behind the thoughts. Moreover, many people unknowingly buy in to the false premise “If I think fearful thoughts, they must be true.”
You’ve heard it said that fear is an illusion created in the mind. A great deal of what we fear rarely comes to fruition, yet fear seems to predominate our thought landscape. Since fear is a survival instinct which alerts us to impending danger, it only becomes a threat when our thoughts become stuck in a repetitive cycle. When fear rules your life, you are at the mercy of the emotion.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” - Nelson Mandela
Transforming Fear
How can we reframe fear to view it as friend rather than a foe? Firstly appreciate that fear is a feedback mechanism alerting you to forward progress. You are stepping out of your comfort zone and moving into uncharted territory. Rather than oppose fear, embrace it by viewing it as an opportunity to gain new insights as you advance onward. Embrace the fear by observing it as part of the process of evolving. Many people view fear as a brick wall, while others see it as an opportunity to overcome it.
Fear is your best friend since it inspires a call to action. It advises us to avoid that which is deleterious and take affirmative action. Take for example the fear of public speaking which is considered one of people’s greatest fears. The American comedian Jerry Seinfeld offers us the following comedic observation, “According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”
In this instance fear forces us to brush up on our speaking skills through rehearsal. Rather than appearing incompetent, fear forces us to show up prepared. As we overcome fear, we not only build character and inner strength, we overcome an impediment on our path to victory. Therefore fear becomes a great teacher, since it provides us with the experience before the lesson.
Reconnecting to the Present Moment
Moreover fear reminds us to stay connected to the present moment. Given that fear is a future occurrence, it allows us to reconnect back to the present moment when our minds wander into the future. We are reminded that all we ever have is contained within the perfection of this moment. There is no need to worry or fear a future which seldom arrives as we hope for. Therefore fear reminds us to let go of the incessant thoughts of an anticipated tomorrow.
It must be stated that we cannot eliminate fear from our lives, not in the way many people believe. We can turn down the volume on fear by not becoming a slave to it. Susan Jeffers’ acclaimed self-help book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway is an appropriate axiom for learning to befriend fear. When faced with the prospect of taming our fears, we are reminded that fear helps us sharpen the sword as it were by making better decisions in lieu of perceived danger. We must have our wits about us as we confront our fears.
Your response to fear provides you with a glimpse into your deeper psyche. Are you continually running away from fear or brave enough to face it head on? Fear is a call toward inner growth and inner freedom. Running away from your fears makes them grow stronger until they overwhelm you. Rather than oppose your fears, approach them with compassion and an open heart. Forgive yourself and others who may have contributed towards your fears.
You might be surprised to learn that a number of our fears are passed down through generations. Wars and hatred stem from the paralysis of fear. First we fear that which we do not understand, then we ultimately go to war with it. If we dislike parts of ourselves, then this becomes a call to make peace with that aspect of our nature.
Ultimately you have a choice – to make peace with fear or allow it to control your life. Hopefully I’ve provided you with some valid points to choose the former. Transcending fear is liberating since it frees you from the self-imposed fortress, which is the illusory mind of fear.
A Mind-Made Illusion
In his book Influence Science and Practice, author Robert Cialdini shares a story capturing the transformative essence of fear. In a tribe in southern Africa, the Thonga people hold an annual initiation for young boys prior to becoming a man. A young Thonga boy must endure a series of intense physical challenges before he is admitted to adulthood.
The three-month ritual consists of six major trials: beatings, exposure to cold, thirst, eating of unsavoury foods, punishment and the threat of death. As bizarre as some of these rituals may sound, the young boy emerges a man and in doing so has learned to silence his inner demon – fear.
Whilst the idea of spending three months subjected to mental, emotional and physical hardship might seem harsh, consider that many of these young boys become strong and powerful leaders within their tribes. This story illustrates how fear, despite the brutality of the ritual, can be channelled toward personal growth.
In civilised society fear impairs the lives of many who buy into the notion that fear is real. It was the French philosopher René Descartes who said, “I think therefore I am.” In other words if there are thoughts, there must be a thinker behind the thoughts. Moreover, many people unknowingly buy in to the false premise “If I think fearful thoughts, they must be true.”
You’ve heard it said that fear is an illusion created in the mind. A great deal of what we fear rarely comes to fruition, yet fear seems to predominate our thought landscape. Since fear is a survival instinct which alerts us to impending danger, it only becomes a threat when our thoughts become stuck in a repetitive cycle. When fear rules your life, you are at the mercy of the emotion.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” - Nelson Mandela
Transforming Fear
How can we reframe fear to view it as friend rather than a foe? Firstly appreciate that fear is a feedback mechanism alerting you to forward progress. You are stepping out of your comfort zone and moving into uncharted territory. Rather than oppose fear, embrace it by viewing it as an opportunity to gain new insights as you advance onward. Embrace the fear by observing it as part of the process of evolving. Many people view fear as a brick wall, while others see it as an opportunity to overcome it.
Fear is your best friend since it inspires a call to action. It advises us to avoid that which is deleterious and take affirmative action. Take for example the fear of public speaking which is considered one of people’s greatest fears. The American comedian Jerry Seinfeld offers us the following comedic observation, “According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”
In this instance fear forces us to brush up on our speaking skills through rehearsal. Rather than appearing incompetent, fear forces us to show up prepared. As we overcome fear, we not only build character and inner strength, we overcome an impediment on our path to victory. Therefore fear becomes a great teacher, since it provides us with the experience before the lesson.
Reconnecting to the Present Moment
Moreover fear reminds us to stay connected to the present moment. Given that fear is a future occurrence, it allows us to reconnect back to the present moment when our minds wander into the future. We are reminded that all we ever have is contained within the perfection of this moment. There is no need to worry or fear a future which seldom arrives as we hope for. Therefore fear reminds us to let go of the incessant thoughts of an anticipated tomorrow.
It must be stated that we cannot eliminate fear from our lives, not in the way many people believe. We can turn down the volume on fear by not becoming a slave to it. Susan Jeffers’ acclaimed self-help book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway is an appropriate axiom for learning to befriend fear. When faced with the prospect of taming our fears, we are reminded that fear helps us sharpen the sword as it were by making better decisions in lieu of perceived danger. We must have our wits about us as we confront our fears.
Your response to fear provides you with a glimpse into your deeper psyche. Are you continually running away from fear or brave enough to face it head on? Fear is a call toward inner growth and inner freedom. Running away from your fears makes them grow stronger until they overwhelm you. Rather than oppose your fears, approach them with compassion and an open heart. Forgive yourself and others who may have contributed towards your fears.
You might be surprised to learn that a number of our fears are passed down through generations. Wars and hatred stem from the paralysis of fear. First we fear that which we do not understand, then we ultimately go to war with it. If we dislike parts of ourselves, then this becomes a call to make peace with that aspect of our nature.
Ultimately you have a choice – to make peace with fear or allow it to control your life. Hopefully I’ve provided you with some valid points to choose the former. Transcending fear is liberating since it frees you from the self-imposed fortress, which is the illusory mind of fear.
How to Overcome Self-Doubt
“Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.” - William Shakespeare
Taming the monkey mind
It’s an all too common experience - the silent, yet incessant self-doubt which inhabits your mind, combined with the stream of destructive thoughts which accompany it.
The voice repeatedly commands your attention, while reminding you of your inherent weaknesses. The ceaseless inner dialogue knows no boundaries until it has completely overwhelmed you. In that very moment you have surrendered, knowing it has taken hold of you once more.
Welcome to self-doubt, the intimidating inner critic and modest detractor determined to undermine your success. Despite your best intentions to overpower the crippling self-talk, it seems futile as it sustains its hold on you. Why won’t it leave you alone you often wonder?
You cannot remove doubt any more than trying to eliminate negative thoughts. Doubts are woven into our psyche during childhood as we learned to integrate into our surroundings. Similarly what begins as the voice of reason echoed through loved ones, soon becomes the doubtful inner critic given the passage of time.
Did you know that by the time you reach adulthood, you would have heard the word ‘NO’ repeated 50,000 times throughout your life? In contrast the word ‘YES’ is only heard 7,000 times. It is no wonder doubt manages to weave its way into our minds with such intensity.
We are notorious for falsifying inaccurate tales about ourselves. Doubt is one such story often repeated through adulthood. Whilst it is healthy to entertain doubt from time to time, being at the mercy of the debilitating thought is not conducive toward living a fulfilling life.
In a similar vein, doubt can become self-deprecating while wreaking havoc with your personal confidence if left unchecked.
“Willpower is the key to success. Successful people strive no matter what they feel by applying their will to overcome apathy, doubt or fear.” - Dan Millman
Feeding the doubt
It is worth repeating that self-doubt requires examination if it prevents you from living an enriching life.
It is apparent that a growing number of people are quite content to shy away from honouring their highest potential. They conceal their emotions deep within, hoping they will miraculously vanish, and no, these same people are not confined to the male class either.
Unfortunately as time passes by, the buried emotions may resurface in the form of illness, destructive relationships, addiction to substances or untoward behaviour, etc.
In his book Spontaneous Evolution, author Bruce Lipton states that 95% of our behaviour is controlled by our subconscious mind. In many ways our behaviour is reflected in the blind decisions we make every day without a moment’s consideration. Reflect on how much of your daily life’s decisions are automated – that is devoid of conscious intent?
In another example, author Michael S. Gazzaniga further illuminates this point in his book, Who’s In Charge: Free Will and The Science of The Brain. As a neuroscientist investigating split brain personality, he offers the following observation about the choices we make, “That you are so proud of is a story woven together by your interpreter module to account for as much of your behaviour as it can incorporate and it denies or rationalizes the rest.”
Overcoming the inner critic
A great deal of articles, books and resources have been written about self-doubt in recent times. Most apply the term conquering doubt rather dismissively, likening it to overcoming a setback. It may benefit you to reframe doubt as an integrated aspect of your nature – since it resides within your shadow self. You needn’t deny aspects of yourself, for that which you resist continues to persist.
Overcoming self-doubt requires taking affirmative action while being attentive to the inner critic – that is, you choose to take action in spite of the doubt.
In a recent documentary highlighting the sport of accelerated free falling, the jumper was asked by a reporter if he entertained fear prior to his jumps. He reassured the reporter that fear was present during every jump and served to remind him of the inherent dangers associated with the sport. He managed fear by choosing to turn down the volume on it so as not to overwhelm him.
Which leads us to examine the purpose of self-doubt afterall? Does it serve to mask a repressed aspect of oneself?
Take a moment to consider the spectrum of doubt inherent in your life. What tools or resources do you frequently call upon to navigate self-doubt when it emerges? It should be stated that doubt is merely a self-imposed speed bump in your life’s journey. As you know speed bumps are intended to slow you down, not halt your progress.
If self-doubt is wreaking havoc in your life, you may wish to reconnect with your vision or purpose. Your vision cannot be obscured by obstacles.
Attributing self-blame in relation to past failures leads to more of the same destructive thoughts. Instead, choose affirmative action with respect to your goals and attend to your doubts with self-compassion. It is your responsibility to reconcile them in a peaceful manner free of guilt.
Remember, your journey towards inner peace and fulfillment is lined with many detours. Embrace your challenges with attentiveness and enthusiasm.
You’ve heard it said that it isn’t the goal that fuels our desire. It is the journey towards whom we become that ignites our passion and sustains us in attaining inner victory.
Taming the monkey mind
It’s an all too common experience - the silent, yet incessant self-doubt which inhabits your mind, combined with the stream of destructive thoughts which accompany it.
The voice repeatedly commands your attention, while reminding you of your inherent weaknesses. The ceaseless inner dialogue knows no boundaries until it has completely overwhelmed you. In that very moment you have surrendered, knowing it has taken hold of you once more.
Welcome to self-doubt, the intimidating inner critic and modest detractor determined to undermine your success. Despite your best intentions to overpower the crippling self-talk, it seems futile as it sustains its hold on you. Why won’t it leave you alone you often wonder?
You cannot remove doubt any more than trying to eliminate negative thoughts. Doubts are woven into our psyche during childhood as we learned to integrate into our surroundings. Similarly what begins as the voice of reason echoed through loved ones, soon becomes the doubtful inner critic given the passage of time.
Did you know that by the time you reach adulthood, you would have heard the word ‘NO’ repeated 50,000 times throughout your life? In contrast the word ‘YES’ is only heard 7,000 times. It is no wonder doubt manages to weave its way into our minds with such intensity.
We are notorious for falsifying inaccurate tales about ourselves. Doubt is one such story often repeated through adulthood. Whilst it is healthy to entertain doubt from time to time, being at the mercy of the debilitating thought is not conducive toward living a fulfilling life.
In a similar vein, doubt can become self-deprecating while wreaking havoc with your personal confidence if left unchecked.
“Willpower is the key to success. Successful people strive no matter what they feel by applying their will to overcome apathy, doubt or fear.” - Dan Millman
Feeding the doubt
It is worth repeating that self-doubt requires examination if it prevents you from living an enriching life.
It is apparent that a growing number of people are quite content to shy away from honouring their highest potential. They conceal their emotions deep within, hoping they will miraculously vanish, and no, these same people are not confined to the male class either.
Unfortunately as time passes by, the buried emotions may resurface in the form of illness, destructive relationships, addiction to substances or untoward behaviour, etc.
In his book Spontaneous Evolution, author Bruce Lipton states that 95% of our behaviour is controlled by our subconscious mind. In many ways our behaviour is reflected in the blind decisions we make every day without a moment’s consideration. Reflect on how much of your daily life’s decisions are automated – that is devoid of conscious intent?
In another example, author Michael S. Gazzaniga further illuminates this point in his book, Who’s In Charge: Free Will and The Science of The Brain. As a neuroscientist investigating split brain personality, he offers the following observation about the choices we make, “That you are so proud of is a story woven together by your interpreter module to account for as much of your behaviour as it can incorporate and it denies or rationalizes the rest.”
Overcoming the inner critic
A great deal of articles, books and resources have been written about self-doubt in recent times. Most apply the term conquering doubt rather dismissively, likening it to overcoming a setback. It may benefit you to reframe doubt as an integrated aspect of your nature – since it resides within your shadow self. You needn’t deny aspects of yourself, for that which you resist continues to persist.
Overcoming self-doubt requires taking affirmative action while being attentive to the inner critic – that is, you choose to take action in spite of the doubt.
In a recent documentary highlighting the sport of accelerated free falling, the jumper was asked by a reporter if he entertained fear prior to his jumps. He reassured the reporter that fear was present during every jump and served to remind him of the inherent dangers associated with the sport. He managed fear by choosing to turn down the volume on it so as not to overwhelm him.
Which leads us to examine the purpose of self-doubt afterall? Does it serve to mask a repressed aspect of oneself?
Take a moment to consider the spectrum of doubt inherent in your life. What tools or resources do you frequently call upon to navigate self-doubt when it emerges? It should be stated that doubt is merely a self-imposed speed bump in your life’s journey. As you know speed bumps are intended to slow you down, not halt your progress.
If self-doubt is wreaking havoc in your life, you may wish to reconnect with your vision or purpose. Your vision cannot be obscured by obstacles.
Attributing self-blame in relation to past failures leads to more of the same destructive thoughts. Instead, choose affirmative action with respect to your goals and attend to your doubts with self-compassion. It is your responsibility to reconcile them in a peaceful manner free of guilt.
Remember, your journey towards inner peace and fulfillment is lined with many detours. Embrace your challenges with attentiveness and enthusiasm.
You’ve heard it said that it isn’t the goal that fuels our desire. It is the journey towards whom we become that ignites our passion and sustains us in attaining inner victory.
The Willingness To Change
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” - Leo Tolstoy
Change is difficult.
If you hope to change a personal behaviour, save money or otherwise, the Gods of change are reluctant to smile upon you in those early stages.
Yet within our willingness to change lies the yearning for something more. Change heralds letting go of the tired, old and outdated to usher in the new. It shows we have gone so far with an endeavour and must allow something new to fill its place.
Change is the process of life, despite the unknown path ahead. The willingness to change is crucial in any transformation since it sets into motion what will soon become.
Your willingness to change is a desire to embrace a new way of life. We must be prepared to commit to new actions and confront our fears if we wish to embody the changes at a deeper level. We must venture beyond the known, beyond our comfort zone if we seek to attain inner growth. The growth I am referring to is realised when we rouse our potential, our genius, gifts and talents. Thus your willingness to change is measured by your ability to adapt to change.
If we are discontent with life and seek more honest experiences, we must embrace change on all levels. Albert Einstein said: “We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.” Thus a new mental landscape must be formed if you wish to perceive your circumstances in a new light.
The commitment to change is an obligation to your personal growth and a promising future.
Change is the fabric of life – the seasons, the days, the landscape changes, yet we fear change. Thus we must abide by the cycles of life if we seek to reshape our circumstances. Fear of change is a natural response. You need not abolish your fears, yet integrate them into your experience. It was Susan Jeffers’ acclaimed book Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway which reminds us of our commitment to embrace fear as we undergo change.
Change is not indicative of losing control as many believe since we have limited control anyway. It implies surrender and detachment for the ultimate good of our personal evolution. An adjustment period is foundational to moments of growth and transformation. Allow time to acclimatise to these changes then allow it to sweep through. Life is not bound by our inner clock, so we must yield to what transpires with openness and receptivity.
A change in circumstances disrupts the brain’s thought process given its habituation to pattern recognition. Your mind considers historical evidence as memories to form assumptions about the future. Its habitual tendency is inclined towards established patterns. In his book The Click Moment, author Frans Johansson states, “Our brains have been designed to perceive order instead of randomness.”
“When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Viktor E. Frankl
We must acquaint ourselves with the change cycle if we wish to master change at any level. Justifiably we will slip up along the way as we integrate our new experiences into our life. This should not dissuade you from persisting, yet appreciate that the cycle of change diminishes suffering feelings of guilt along the way.
In an earlier article titled, How to Form Successful Habits, I outlined five ways to create new habits while drawing your attention to the transformative cycle of change. I encourage you to embrace change by being open and receptive to it. Unite with your heart and mind to navigate through it. Reason and logic alone are insufficient measures to realise change since they obscure the voice of wisdom.
Evidently, fear arises with any change due to uncertainty. Recall earlier that the mind is resistant to change. For that reason we must integrate new experiences into our life gradually so as not to disrupt the brain’s homeostasis. Our response to this perceived fear may be expressed via the following question: “Am I responding to the fear itself or the fear of not being in control?” Our aim then is to delineate between a perceived threat to our wellbeing or an irrational fear.
Fear is a facade orchestrated by the mind to protect you. Whilst it should not be construed as deleterious, your mind protects you from imminent danger by arousing suspicion when change is imminent. Fear is considered a threat to your survival when you become consumed by it since it dominates your mental landscape.
Resistance to change invites suffering by opposing what is. To avoid this, let go of your struggles and go along with the change ushered in - think unlimited opportunities. Recognise that change does not mean recoiling in hesitation, yet signifies an opportunity to move ahead into exciting times.
Many people are dissatisfied with their circumstances nowadays owing to many reasons. In my book, The Power to Navigate Life, I outline two states for instituting a harmonious passage through life. A Parked state denotes being stuck and stagnant. If we wish to change, we must adopt a Navigate mindset i.e. expansive, movement of energy, freedom, untethered and liberating. Those who Navigate life use these qualities to create fundamental change whilst adjusting their course along the way. Professor of Psychology at Stanford University Carol Dweck labels these types of people as having a growth mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset.
Knowing change is difficult we must stay grounded and attentive if we wish to amend our circumstances. Do not wallow in the past nor expect a future to arrive as planned, given its impact to arouse fear.
Trust that your willingness to change is enough to set into motion the power to transform oneself.
It is this willingness which sets alight the flame to compel sweeping changes that linger well into the future.
Change is difficult.
If you hope to change a personal behaviour, save money or otherwise, the Gods of change are reluctant to smile upon you in those early stages.
Yet within our willingness to change lies the yearning for something more. Change heralds letting go of the tired, old and outdated to usher in the new. It shows we have gone so far with an endeavour and must allow something new to fill its place.
Change is the process of life, despite the unknown path ahead. The willingness to change is crucial in any transformation since it sets into motion what will soon become.
Your willingness to change is a desire to embrace a new way of life. We must be prepared to commit to new actions and confront our fears if we wish to embody the changes at a deeper level. We must venture beyond the known, beyond our comfort zone if we seek to attain inner growth. The growth I am referring to is realised when we rouse our potential, our genius, gifts and talents. Thus your willingness to change is measured by your ability to adapt to change.
If we are discontent with life and seek more honest experiences, we must embrace change on all levels. Albert Einstein said: “We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.” Thus a new mental landscape must be formed if you wish to perceive your circumstances in a new light.
The commitment to change is an obligation to your personal growth and a promising future.
Change is the fabric of life – the seasons, the days, the landscape changes, yet we fear change. Thus we must abide by the cycles of life if we seek to reshape our circumstances. Fear of change is a natural response. You need not abolish your fears, yet integrate them into your experience. It was Susan Jeffers’ acclaimed book Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway which reminds us of our commitment to embrace fear as we undergo change.
Change is not indicative of losing control as many believe since we have limited control anyway. It implies surrender and detachment for the ultimate good of our personal evolution. An adjustment period is foundational to moments of growth and transformation. Allow time to acclimatise to these changes then allow it to sweep through. Life is not bound by our inner clock, so we must yield to what transpires with openness and receptivity.
A change in circumstances disrupts the brain’s thought process given its habituation to pattern recognition. Your mind considers historical evidence as memories to form assumptions about the future. Its habitual tendency is inclined towards established patterns. In his book The Click Moment, author Frans Johansson states, “Our brains have been designed to perceive order instead of randomness.”
“When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Viktor E. Frankl
We must acquaint ourselves with the change cycle if we wish to master change at any level. Justifiably we will slip up along the way as we integrate our new experiences into our life. This should not dissuade you from persisting, yet appreciate that the cycle of change diminishes suffering feelings of guilt along the way.
In an earlier article titled, How to Form Successful Habits, I outlined five ways to create new habits while drawing your attention to the transformative cycle of change. I encourage you to embrace change by being open and receptive to it. Unite with your heart and mind to navigate through it. Reason and logic alone are insufficient measures to realise change since they obscure the voice of wisdom.
Evidently, fear arises with any change due to uncertainty. Recall earlier that the mind is resistant to change. For that reason we must integrate new experiences into our life gradually so as not to disrupt the brain’s homeostasis. Our response to this perceived fear may be expressed via the following question: “Am I responding to the fear itself or the fear of not being in control?” Our aim then is to delineate between a perceived threat to our wellbeing or an irrational fear.
Fear is a facade orchestrated by the mind to protect you. Whilst it should not be construed as deleterious, your mind protects you from imminent danger by arousing suspicion when change is imminent. Fear is considered a threat to your survival when you become consumed by it since it dominates your mental landscape.
Resistance to change invites suffering by opposing what is. To avoid this, let go of your struggles and go along with the change ushered in - think unlimited opportunities. Recognise that change does not mean recoiling in hesitation, yet signifies an opportunity to move ahead into exciting times.
Many people are dissatisfied with their circumstances nowadays owing to many reasons. In my book, The Power to Navigate Life, I outline two states for instituting a harmonious passage through life. A Parked state denotes being stuck and stagnant. If we wish to change, we must adopt a Navigate mindset i.e. expansive, movement of energy, freedom, untethered and liberating. Those who Navigate life use these qualities to create fundamental change whilst adjusting their course along the way. Professor of Psychology at Stanford University Carol Dweck labels these types of people as having a growth mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset.
Knowing change is difficult we must stay grounded and attentive if we wish to amend our circumstances. Do not wallow in the past nor expect a future to arrive as planned, given its impact to arouse fear.
Trust that your willingness to change is enough to set into motion the power to transform oneself.
It is this willingness which sets alight the flame to compel sweeping changes that linger well into the future.
