Journey through valleys of fear

If I wrote a book about the whole story of my life, it's main theme would be this. Combating fear. When I grew up, a few of my fear giants were the driver's license test and the matriculation examination week, ha. Once those were behind me I've successfully found new fears to pursue. Have you noticed how you relate to fear? My response is often the feeling of being paralyzed mentally, I withdraw and start doing things that make me feel safe. And those things are mostly not helpful. Think of eating junk food, staying up late watching something random, limiting my social contacts and so on. 

Throughout the years I've learned to realize my response phases and started learning a new way. I am a person of faith and prayer has always been one of the healthy responses for me. It has guarded my mind and thoughts from becoming all desperate and empty of hope. And since even sometimes the smallest things can trigger my fear, I've spent countless times wandering around in nature and breathing prayer.

I've learned to talk with my people. Instead of withdrawing from my relationships I've learned to share with my trusted people, that I am afraid. And when I've discussed with them about what I am afraid of my eyes have opened more to see myself as that elephant, who freaks out the mouse, which I many times am.

I've found the way to bring the nature I love and that always soothes my wrecked nerves, around me where I am. Essential oils have become that one more tangible way to remind myself that I am so loved and that love drives out all fear. And that there's no punishment in love. Oftentimes I am more afraid of the negative outcome of something that very rarely happens than I am excited of the most likely positive outcome that usually comes. With certain oils I can shift my thoughts to remember the hope that's hidden even in the most frightening moments.

I've underestimated most of my life the power of sleep as a remedy for fear. As a kid I always went to bed too late. Most of my adulthood I took the time for other things from my sleeping hours. As a response I've seen how fear has been easily fed with the negativity of my tired mind and with the exhaustion of my body. When quite recently, maybe less than a year ago, I heard thoughts from Brendon Burchard about sleep, it shifted my viewpoint radically. If you're looking for a good read, his book High Performance Habits is a gem. Take care of your sleep as well as you can and see what it does to your thought life, emotions and how your body feels.

I could go on and on about a healthy response to fear, so maybe I should write that book. But lastly I want to share one more thought about how you can find what works for you. Get to know your personality type. I love psychology and the study of how our different types of personalities affect our lives. There's tons of resources out there, the color personality theory, Myers Briggs, Enneagram, and so on. Just pick one and start learning about yourself. Learning about the way I and how the people around me function, has taught me a lot and given tools to respond in healthier ways to my fears, big and small.

You're worthy of your own support through life's challenges and it can begin from understanding who you are and how you function when something triggers the fearful side we all have. Facing that side of yourself is nothing to be afraid of. Remember, you're so loved.