How do you know the difference between stepping up to face fear or stepping into a major pile of shit? When the anxiety churning your gut is the same in both scenarios, what discerns the right move?
Do you have an answer? Yes - amazing fill us in on your strategies! No - welcome to the majority. Even after 2 decades of professional people experience and 4+ decades of humanness, I'm only still dabbling in discerning the grey of my big scary stuff. However, in the interest of chipping away at fear in general and judgement in specific, I'll share what bits I have learned. While I won't share the details (no! you nebby thing you!), I've had two major life - umm, let's call them 'disruptions' shall we. One in the professional sphere and the other personal both within the span of 2 years. The risks of loss were and have been very high and hindsight brings a sense of absolute rightness to my then decisions. But at the time I thought fear and grief might swallow me whole. It literally clenched my stomach and gagged me physically. My body has always been the first to communicate to me. So, that's tip numero uno- listen to your body. Try not to make it scream at you for attention. And while we are on the the topic, take the time to sit in and articulate (even if it's just in your mind) what and where you feel fear, anxiety, joy and happiness in your body. In the professional scenario, I had prepared in advance and used my words as the source of justice that will otherwise never be served. Writing out and delivering my message with fear still trembling my hands and voice was the only choice I felt I had. That lack of choice for me, the clarity I had that no other decision would be authentic to me, that's what drove me through the big scary. As life would have it, the personal experience unfolded over years and all at once. It was a moment that while my heart was breaking, I felt a literal snap within me. It wasn't me breaking but rather the last puzzle piece snapping into place. The game was over, I wasn't going to play anymore and as soon as my words matching that left my mouth, the weight in my stomach lifted. Again, a visceral experience as much as a mental one. So whether you do so premeditatively or retroactively listen to your body, take notes on it's communication and take the time to feel how and where the big scary stuff shows up physically. Clarity and choice are a magnificent compass.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWriting is a tool of mass healing. . Archives
April 2024
Categories |