Welcome to week 1 and there really is only one place to begin, your need to feel safe!
The reason why fear is at the beginning of your journey, is because feeling safe is what is referred to as a base human need. This basically means that if you feel physically, mentally, or emotionally threatened in any way, you will struggle to focus on anything else until your safety needs have been established. So, in this ‘I am safe’ meditation you will reduce your threat perception and soften the defence mechanisms that you have in place to keep you safe, and believe me we all have defence mechanisms, and then you will be more able to fully focus on other aspects of your journey like self-worth and relationships.
The degree to which you feel safe in the world is down to both Nature and nurture.
Nature refers to your predestined characteristics that were present from moment you were created in the womb and nurture refers to how the world has shaped you from this moment on.
Fear itself is a fundamental aspect of human nature, an aspect that is designed to keep us safe and free from danger, but it is also an aspect that can become overactive and start having a negative influence on our life experience.
Here are some areas where fear can become established and have an influence in our lives:
Physical Danger: Fear of bodily harm, injury, or threat to one’s safety can trigger immediate fear responses.
Emotional Vulnerability: Fear of rejection, criticism, or emotional pain, which can arise from past experiences or low self-esteem.
Unknown or Uncertainty: Fear of the unknown, unexpected, or uncertain outcomes can cause anxiety and fear of the future.
Phobias: Specific, intense fears of particular objects, situations, or activities (such as heights, spiders, flying) that can provoke extreme anxiety.
Trauma: Past traumatic experiences can lead to fears associated with similar situations, reminders, or triggers.
Social Situations: Fear of social judgment, embarrassment, or public speaking can lead to social anxiety.
Loss: Fear of losing loved ones, possessions, status, or security can generate anxiety and fear.
Failure: Fear of not meeting expectations, failing academically, professionally, or personally, can cause anxiety and avoidance behaviours.
Change: Fear of change, whether it’s in relationships, jobs, or life circumstances, can provoke anxiety and resistance to transitions.
Health Concerns: Fear of illness, injury, or the unknown in terms of health conditions can cause anxiety and distress.
Performance Pressure: Fear of not meeting standards or expectations, whether in sports, work, or any competitive activity, can lead to performance anxiety.
Existential Fears: Fear of death, meaninglessness, or existential questions about life’s purpose can provoke anxiety and fear.
On the flip side here are some of the benefits that can emerge from softening the influence fear has in your life:
- Personal Growth: Reducing your reaction to fear promotes your ability to go beyond your comfort zone, thus fostering personal development and resilience.
- Increased Confidence: Reducing the impact of fear can boost self-assurance and belief in your abilities.
- Expanded Opportunities: Overcoming the feeling of fear opens doors to new experiences, relationships, and opportunities you might have avoided otherwise.
- Improved Mental Health: Facing your fears can reduce anxiety, stress, and feelings of helplessness, contributing to better mental well-being.
- Enhanced Decision-Making: Fear often clouds judgment; overcoming it can lead to clearer, more rational decision-making.
- Stronger Relationships: Addressing fear can help in building stronger connections as you become more open and authentic.
- Achievement of Goals: Fear can hold you back from pursuing your dreams. Overcoming it allows you to set and achieve meaningful goals.
- Adaptability: Controlling your response to fear feels empowering which grows your capacity for adaptability and flexibility in handling challenging situations.
Truthfully, reducing the influence that fear has on your life experience, is the focus for not only the beginning, but also the middle and the end of this course of meditations.
Why? Because,
- Fear causes stagnation.
- Fear promotes limitation.
- Fear breeds separation.
So, it’s now time to challenge the influence fear has on the life you experience and begin to build on this foundation the potential for,
- Greater personal growth
- More opportunities realised.
- Deeper connections made.
As always, I wish for you peace!