The New Now: How To Not Give Power To Fear
We are in unchartered territory. The times are surreal, scary and uncertain. The fact is we are all in this together. We don’t want to be here, but we have no choice. We must forge ahead in our own ways, under circumstances that none of us have any control over. It’s terrifying. Even the strongest, most stoic humans among us are scared. But the truth is fear can be given power or we can rise against it – even in times like these, or perhaps, especially in times like these.
Businesses are closing. Schools are out. The economy is volatile. The coronavirus threatens nearly every aspect of our society, but we do have a few things in our control. We can control our emotional reaction, our resolve and the support we show for one another. We can take the control away from our fear, look it squarely in the eyes and move forward on a path that is driven by love, compassion and strength. And, once the dust settles from this unimaginable time, we can take this mastery of fear and apply it to normal challenges like getting our lives back in order, rebuilding our businesses and supporting the most harmed citizens among us while they get back on their feet.
Let’s pause our pandemic fear for a second, as hard as that may be, and talk of fear in general. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of not being enough – these are the common fears that weave through our lives. They often prohibit us from taking that risk, the one that might bring us one step closer to our dreams. Fear has so much power that a huge percentage of human beings don’t do the thing they truly desire. They never even try simply because of fear. Let’s explore the nature of fear and why it permeates our lives.
Fear has a place in nature. It’s the signal that protects us when we are being chased by a bear or in some other sort of real physical danger. For our ancestors, fear was a necessary component of daily life, but in today’s world, it has become a chronic condition that doesn’t often fit the true nature of the threat at hand. According to research from Harvard, over 19% of the total population has experienced some sort of an anxiety disorder in the last 12 months. (These are pre-pandemic numbers, of course.) In fact, anxiety is one of the most common psychological challenges in the U.S. and is consistently impacting younger members of our society, you know the ones that are supposed to be carefree.
Reasons that widespread fear is on the rise:
Bad diets that cloud our brain.
Social media that spreads bad news like wildfire.
Poor sleeping habits that reduce our ability to think rationally and other physiological defenses.
Thought processes that train us to worry about the future, not live in the present moment.
Political discourse (on both sides) that wants us to be scared of each other.
Ways we can take the power away from fear:
Change your self-talk game. There’s a story we tell ourselves, one no one ever hears but us. What does that story sound like? Is it negative, fearful or cruel? Write it [honestly] down sometime and then find the places where it goes astray. Rewrite it, deleting the fear that has been weaved in and continue onward with the new (less fearful) story. Exercise the telling of this new story like a muscle, until it is strong enough to stick.
Consider the pros and cons of the status quo. Choosing to do nothing is actually a choice. Not always a wrong choice, but accepting things the way they are is still a choice. Be sure to clearly outline the pros and cons of staying where you, understanding that you are choosing this option.
Define the worst case scenario. The worst case scenario may not be as bad as your anxiety leads you to believe. By truly answering the question, “what is the worst thing that could happen?” You might be able to clarify that it’s not that bad, and move forward in a direction away from your fears.
Webster Dictionary defines fear as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat. And, Michael Jordan famously said, “You will miss all the shots you don’t take.” Reconciling those two theories, in my humble opinion, is the challenge of our lifetime, during pandemic conditions or not. Take a look around this connected world, and you’ll see the ones who are afraid and mongering their fear with the hopes of ensuring others are also afraid. Then, you’ll see the ones who are taking the power away from fear. They are trying to help, to support and to hold space for themselves and others as we navigate our ways through this difficult time. I hope this blog finds you all safe, well and free from the grips of fear.
Xandra Marketing is always here for you to help you navigate your business goals and turn fear into power.
