Fear can show up in many ways; to me, it is like a thief lurking silently in the background that robs us of love, joy, happiness, & opportunities. Fear can be insidious, we do not always see it, but we can feel it threatening the dreams and goals we work so hard to achieve. 

Fear can take on a life of its own if not kept in check. While no monster or bogie man is chasing us down, it can feel like we are under threat. Fear holds us back; it changes colors like a chameleon in disguise. Once you understand how fear shows up in your life, you can dismantle it, realign, and focus on your dreams and goals again. 

Do any of these ring true for you???

Fear can show up like:

• Doubt – are you always second-guessing yourself? Saying things like: Do I need that, is now the time? Let me think about that?
• Procrastination – I will do it after. I am not ready yet. I need to check on something first after I finish.
• Distraction - check email, shop online, FB, TikTok, scroll down, like, comment hours pass by...
• Denial – telling the world you are fine while inside you feel like you are a hot mess; just melting.
• Perfectionism – need to fix, adjust, change, feel not good enough, take another class, read another book, and learn more.
• Eruption – your health & well-being are under constant stress and fatigue and illness set in.

We all deal with fear in different ways. For me, fear has shown up as procrastination & perfectionism, the old “Fear of Judgment” routine. 

Fear is a gut instinct, its a way our body alerts us of trouble or real danger, like being attacked by an intruder or protecting us from other harm. Fear can wreak havoc in the body with anxiety, adrenaline rushes, and overloaded cortisol, leading to sleepless nights. These symptoms if persistent, should get a closer look & not go unchecked.

What I have learned is the mind likes what is familiar, not what is unfamiliar. Too often, negative thinking is familiar to many of us, while praise is unfamiliar. The mind's job is to move you from pain to pleasure at any cost. It does not care if it is healthy or unhealthy, true or false, good or bad, right or wrong; it just does not care. It wants to do whatever makes you feel better in the moment. Learning healthy coping strategies to combat fear, and bring down anxiety levels helps us cope with stress and stop sending us into the fear cycle.

The question is, where did this fear come from in the first place?? Chances are your past.

Too many of us are walking around listening to Fears Lies, the lies that were not good enough, the lies that what we want is not available to us, the lies that were different and don’t belong. They are all lies, lies, lies; keeping us from shinning, keeping us from sharing gifts & talents we came into the world ready to give, share, and enjoy all the blessings that await us. 

The most important thing is that we take time to investigate, challenge, and interrupt those old fear-driven beliefs. We have the power to change those negative patterns that keep us from achieving the dreams, goals, and success we desire. 

Understanding the root cause of our fears, and recognizing it, is the best way to break free from its grip, let go of the past and move on to the future that awaits you. If you want to investigate the root cause of those fears, and move past them, I am happy to assist you.

Here are some coping strategies to consider adopting that have served me well.

1. Take a time out! It is impossible to focus when your mind is flooded with fear or anxiety. Change your surroundings for 5 to 15min, go for walk, get up & stretch, drink some water, stay hydrated, make a cup of relaxing tea, take a warm bath, exercise, or do some yoga to move that energy if you can.
2. Breath: when fearful or stressed, we tend to hold our breath, and breathing becomes very shallow. Consider taking four (4) slow deep breaths to the count of 4; breath in for four (4) counts, hold it for four (4) counts, breath out for four (4) counts, hold out-breath for four (4) counts. Start again. Repeat four (4) times
3. If you feel panicky, jittery, or are shaking, shake more, wiggle more increase it. This shows you that you are in control; you can increase it & slow it down. This also moves the energy looking for release.
4. Press your tongue to the roof of your mouth fill your mouth with saliva; a wet mouth calms the nervous system.
5. Stroke your face and jawline, take both hands, stroke your face from your cheekbones down to your jaw & chin in a light manner; there are nerve receptors on each side of your jaw. This gentle stroking calms the nervous system.
6. Look at the evidence, tune in to your surroundings, are you safe, no imminent danger; touch the chair you are sitting in, look out the window or up at the sky. What is the truth?
7. Do not try to be perfect; with all the stresses people are facing, there is no actual state of perfection, life is messy. Some days will be messy; it is okay.
8. Visual a happy place, close your eyes, see your happy place, see your happy face, feel it, see it, use your imagination for your good, see and feel calm & relaxed in whatever place brings you peace.
9. Above all PRAISE yourself daily; self-praise for many of us is foreign, especially if we were not praised as children.

"The most important words you will ever say are the words you say to yourself"

 (Marisa Peer)

Make a list of your "I am's" print out and say daily. Whatever follows I am, you bring into to being, so bring in all the good stuff!!

You are powerful beyond measure. I am statements are a great way to dispel fears lies about ourselves.

These are some of my favorites:

I am enough just as I am

I am smart & intelligent

I am gifted & talented

I am calm, relaxed & peaceful

I am filled with energy & vitality

I am strong & resilient

I have phenomenal coping skills

I am healthy, every cell in my body operates with Gods divine wisdom

I am prosperous

I am worthy of every abundant blessing

Everything is available to me