Something that seems so simple and almost silly is a variation of a strategy/tool that a friend told me about. He suggested visualizing fear as a paper tiger, it feels real, very threatening but in reality is just made out of paper and can be crumpled up or blown away with 1 big breathe. Somehow for me it morphed into a colorful origami dragon but when I am about to do something that makes me anxious (I.e. call someone who I am afraid of calling) repeating “this is just a paper dragon” and thinking of that beautiful, pretending to be threatening yet in actuality very delicate and vulnerable, origami dragon, has really helped me face my fears.
Due to many little programs I’ve taken and attended mindfulness work shops, I’ve realized that my favourite mode of dealing with fear and uncertainty is avoidance and evasion. And therefore it’s hard to catch myself in the act, but my go to word is : Stay….stay…breathe….breathe…stay….
Kathy Handy, Another Field, Plymouth , MN, USAsays
It helps me to take a long bike ride and allow my fearful thoughts to cycle out of my mind. Eventually even if it’s only for a moment I enjoy the beauty and freedom that surrounds me.
Taking a deep breath…thinking about situations in advance to best move forward. If something happens unexpectedly I always take a breath, or several, then get still to sort out how to respond.
Knowing that they are not alone. That their experience of fear is part of being human, and that they are sick or broken because of this. Having someone listen and acknowledge this about themselves can give hope too. P.S. I am grateful for Tara’s practice and have found her talks very helpful.
Chris Rogers, Stress Management, Salt Lake City, UT, USAsays
Napalms great by telling my patients that it’s okay to feel fear and that it makes sense and is absolutely normal to feel it considering what’s going on in the world seems to help. Encouraging them to feel it as energy in the body that can be sensed separate from the stories and words we have around fear helps them open to it in a new way.
Thank you. I feel I know I have been on a journey with uncertainty trying to follow my heart or path. I removed myself from some painful situations but find myself rationalizing my way through. I’ve had health issues that never really was diagnosed until recently as very low cortisol or adrenal fatigue. Voila. The reason for anxiety and fear? Actually I understand probably the opposite. My anxiety and fear or stress causes the low cortisol and hormone imbalance. Knowing love trumps fear and journaling and meditating. Finding me, my confidence again is like pushing a rock up hill. My mom died last week and I am up and down in mindfulness and distraction. Thank you for your words and I look forward to the next video.
I am a chiropractor and what I love most about getting adjusted is that it can help in two way. One, it can amplify the feeling of fear so that I can name it or it can change the ‘tone’ of my nervous system so that I shift from fear to one of inner peace.
Often when I try to face with mindfulness a certain type of general fear, it just runs away from me and I can no longer point the finger at it. This makes me feel frustrated and confused. How should a wise person go about this? … Meet the frustration and confusion with kindness… I guess…
Thank you so much. After listening I realized that so many of us face challenges and we are not alone. I often meditate or journal my thoughts which help.
Listening to and honoring my fear.
Talking to a trusted friend who can hold the space for me and not try and fix it but can walk with me.
Seeing how I’m not alone that others also have fear.
Walking.
Meditating
Deep breathing and then taking the next small step.
Acknowledgment of the feeling first, then slow, deep breaths and lastly, Tara’s most resonating reminder, “please don’t believe all my thoughts. They feel real, but they may not be true.”
Thanks for sharing about fear Tara. I have sought out your wisdom on your podcast and found it helpful. I am currently challenged by grief as my daughter is dying from osteosarcoma leaving behind two children , my granddaughters and a wonderful husband. Fighting the fear of loss and caregiving during this time has been difficult. The visual of breathing into fear and letting it stay really hit me this morning and was helpful. I appreciate your wisdom and will continue to seek out your voice as my heart can hear it at this time of challenge.
Oh Tara, I so needed this talk this morning, this week, this month!! I have always been a “strong” person, but in the last couple months have been feeling a new unsteadiness, that I’m finally recognizing must be the anxiety that many talk about having, but I’ve never really acutely felt. Your reminder that it is possible to habituate oneself to be an ocean of acceptance to the occasional wave of fear is so helpful. And to answer your question, something that helps me overcome my fear is recognizing the great strength of character and hopefulness in my 9 and 12 year old children. Inspiring. Thank you so much, and I can’t wait for the next session!
Sarah L.
Brenda Thompson, Another Field, Fairfax, CA, USAsays
Fear of not having the energy to take care of logistical tasks of life like paperwork, taking care of my home.
Fear of not making decisions about the same. Fear of not being seen and accepted
As an African American woman with ADD I have a deep chronic internal fear of disrespect from a world dominated by fearful, spiritually disconnected people.
I have a fear that I will not be able to stay connected to my Source. When I am disconnected I am not able to heal and allow these fears to transform to their origin.
Thank you,Tara,I always get so much from your talks. There was a paralegal I worked with who was masterful at keeping calm, centered no matter the stress, pushed rush of our work. If I expressed anxiety about what was going on, she’d sit with me and encourage me to deep breath . . . We would sit together and take very deep breaths until I was more composed, in a different state, then we’d go on with the work. I now do this on my own when I feel anxious or afraid. I’ve found it’s amazing what really deep breathing can do!
In acute states of anxiety the breath is the key for me and that is what I share. On an ongoing basis my mediation practice along with yoga nidra using the power of sankalpa/intention works to help release the fears that are under the surface. For me that includes releasing the psycho-physical pain in my body too.
Thank you Tara for your clarity and your inspiring work
Susan Steinberg, Psychology, Montgomery, OH, USAsays
Thank you for this succinct and helpful reminder about facing fear! It is very useful and I find your voice very soothing.
What helps me face fear is deep breaths, labeling my actions, narrating what I am doing to return me to the moment. Pausing. Pausing is so extremely helpful so that thoughts -that are racing down a rabbit hole- stop. Nature is another wonderful respite. I walk my dog everyday, and look at the beautiful woods behind my house.
As you might imagine, these are some of the ideas I share with my clients.
Thank you, Tara!
To go within ourselves and find the dark places is not a bad thing. It is ok to be afraid it is ok to want to run. If we can see our heart as a portal to strength as a haven to love it wi open and fear El subside.
Neutrons that wire together fire together. Oh my that was a great statement Tara I was Afib and my heart was fixed by firing neurons to zap me back to steady rhythm. to bud scar tissue so my heart would fire correctly. This procedure is called a ablation . As my heart ❤ healed it remained Ia constant beat. I was constantly using my heart rate monitor app to. check. One day I noticed that I trusted ny heart to work properly. I opened my heart and listened. I started singing baking going to see the sunrise.and fear went away.
Recently zi had a horrendous fall down a 6 foot trap door in my bathroom. Sitting there on pain fear kicked in. I was aware but I was afraid. . I looked at the stone wl smelled d the earth and then my mind took over. In the aftermath I am mindfull of that place.
Painful emotion pain anger and fear Stop running .let fear be your friend . Befriend your pain and anger. Breathe with it Create havens in your heart. Haven if calm sense joy .
Thank you Tara for this another opportunity to seek peace . May this course bring us all back to our true selves. Nameste
Tara, thanks for the reminders, what I encouraged my clients to do is to pay attention to what is causing the fear, name it, look at the stories, he/she might be telling self to generate such fear and to change same to a more balance perspective. This technique helps along when I incorporate the cognition because fear does not exist in isolation. Thanks
Something that seems so simple and almost silly is a variation of a strategy/tool that a friend told me about. He suggested visualizing fear as a paper tiger, it feels real, very threatening but in reality is just made out of paper and can be crumpled up or blown away with 1 big breathe. Somehow for me it morphed into a colorful origami dragon but when I am about to do something that makes me anxious (I.e. call someone who I am afraid of calling) repeating “this is just a paper dragon” and thinking of that beautiful, pretending to be threatening yet in actuality very delicate and vulnerable, origami dragon, has really helped me face my fears.
Sorry can’t edit typos.
Distractions. Breathing deeply
Try and think about the positives or imagining them
Due to many little programs I’ve taken and attended mindfulness work shops, I’ve realized that my favourite mode of dealing with fear and uncertainty is avoidance and evasion. And therefore it’s hard to catch myself in the act, but my go to word is : Stay….stay…breathe….breathe…stay….
It helps me to take a long bike ride and allow my fearful thoughts to cycle out of my mind. Eventually even if it’s only for a moment I enjoy the beauty and freedom that surrounds me.
Thanks Tara! This is a really helpful podcast.
Taking a deep breath…thinking about situations in advance to best move forward. If something happens unexpectedly I always take a breath, or several, then get still to sort out how to respond.
Headphones with (help) audios, music, podcasts, to try and build up courage.
Knowing that they are not alone. That their experience of fear is part of being human, and that they are sick or broken because of this. Having someone listen and acknowledge this about themselves can give hope too. P.S. I am grateful for Tara’s practice and have found her talks very helpful.
Napalms great by telling my patients that it’s okay to feel fear and that it makes sense and is absolutely normal to feel it considering what’s going on in the world seems to help. Encouraging them to feel it as energy in the body that can be sensed separate from the stories and words we have around fear helps them open to it in a new way.
Napalms great was supposed to be “Normalizing fear.” Damn autocorrect! 😂😅
😂😂😂 I was trying so hard to figure out what auto-correct did to ya.😂😂😂
Thank you. I feel I know I have been on a journey with uncertainty trying to follow my heart or path. I removed myself from some painful situations but find myself rationalizing my way through. I’ve had health issues that never really was diagnosed until recently as very low cortisol or adrenal fatigue. Voila. The reason for anxiety and fear? Actually I understand probably the opposite. My anxiety and fear or stress causes the low cortisol and hormone imbalance. Knowing love trumps fear and journaling and meditating. Finding me, my confidence again is like pushing a rock up hill. My mom died last week and I am up and down in mindfulness and distraction. Thank you for your words and I look forward to the next video.
I am sorry for your loss Leslie. 💛
focus on the breath
I am a chiropractor and what I love most about getting adjusted is that it can help in two way. One, it can amplify the feeling of fear so that I can name it or it can change the ‘tone’ of my nervous system so that I shift from fear to one of inner peace.
Prayer helps me face fear and just knowing God is with me helps me to see, all will be well in the world.
Stopping and feeling my heart and to begin to talk to it and see a smiley face on it. It helps a bit.
Stilling my mind and tapping into my inner strength
Prayer. With God all things are possible!
Sharing my fear with a friend, letting it out of the box so-to-speak.
Often when I try to face with mindfulness a certain type of general fear, it just runs away from me and I can no longer point the finger at it. This makes me feel frustrated and confused. How should a wise person go about this? … Meet the frustration and confusion with kindness… I guess…
Thank you so much. After listening I realized that so many of us face challenges and we are not alone. I often meditate or journal my thoughts which help.
Name it to tame it; pause; Breathe
Listening to and honoring my fear.
Talking to a trusted friend who can hold the space for me and not try and fix it but can walk with me.
Seeing how I’m not alone that others also have fear.
Walking.
Meditating
Deep breathing and then taking the next small step.
Seeking out others who share the fear and being able to talk about it openly with a friend.
Breathing, mindfulness, prayer, conversation
Somatic meditation and other forms of meditation
Acknowledgment of the feeling first, then slow, deep breaths and lastly, Tara’s most resonating reminder, “please don’t believe all my thoughts. They feel real, but they may not be true.”
The belief in greater internal peace and being less invested in a personal ownership of the outcome
Telling someone I’m afraid. Recognizing the threats I imagined were there all my life never really existed.
Deep breaths, positive talk, grounding techniques.
I breathe and walk in a beautiful park nearby. The huge, old walnut trees remind me that this will pass.
Thanks for sharing about fear Tara. I have sought out your wisdom on your podcast and found it helpful. I am currently challenged by grief as my daughter is dying from osteosarcoma leaving behind two children , my granddaughters and a wonderful husband. Fighting the fear of loss and caregiving during this time has been difficult. The visual of breathing into fear and letting it stay really hit me this morning and was helpful. I appreciate your wisdom and will continue to seek out your voice as my heart can hear it at this time of challenge.
Emotional release of negative beliefs.
Then filling the void with a positive emotion.
Oh Tara, I so needed this talk this morning, this week, this month!! I have always been a “strong” person, but in the last couple months have been feeling a new unsteadiness, that I’m finally recognizing must be the anxiety that many talk about having, but I’ve never really acutely felt. Your reminder that it is possible to habituate oneself to be an ocean of acceptance to the occasional wave of fear is so helpful. And to answer your question, something that helps me overcome my fear is recognizing the great strength of character and hopefulness in my 9 and 12 year old children. Inspiring. Thank you so much, and I can’t wait for the next session!
Sarah L.
A mentor, a model of what facing fear looks like, detective work on what Fear feels like skulking in my mind, body and daily life,
Nothing seems to help.
I detach.
Fear of not having the energy to take care of logistical tasks of life like paperwork, taking care of my home.
Fear of not making decisions about the same. Fear of not being seen and accepted
As an African American woman with ADD I have a deep chronic internal fear of disrespect from a world dominated by fearful, spiritually disconnected people.
I have a fear that I will not be able to stay connected to my Source. When I am disconnected I am not able to heal and allow these fears to transform to their origin.
I find using my breathing to connect and calm myself really helps and using mi dfness as a day practice also makes a difference
Breathing
Thank you,Tara,I always get so much from your talks. There was a paralegal I worked with who was masterful at keeping calm, centered no matter the stress, pushed rush of our work. If I expressed anxiety about what was going on, she’d sit with me and encourage me to deep breath . . . We would sit together and take very deep breaths until I was more composed, in a different state, then we’d go on with the work. I now do this on my own when I feel anxious or afraid. I’ve found it’s amazing what really deep breathing can do!
In acute states of anxiety the breath is the key for me and that is what I share. On an ongoing basis my mediation practice along with yoga nidra using the power of sankalpa/intention works to help release the fears that are under the surface. For me that includes releasing the psycho-physical pain in my body too.
Thank you Tara for your clarity and your inspiring work
Connecting to my breath.
Taking deep breaths, smudging and praying.
Thank you for this timely series. When I can drop down into that place where I feel connected to all, I can face my fears.
Music helps me. Singing with others
Thank you for this succinct and helpful reminder about facing fear! It is very useful and I find your voice very soothing.
What helps me face fear is deep breaths, labeling my actions, narrating what I am doing to return me to the moment. Pausing. Pausing is so extremely helpful so that thoughts -that are racing down a rabbit hole- stop. Nature is another wonderful respite. I walk my dog everyday, and look at the beautiful woods behind my house.
As you might imagine, these are some of the ideas I share with my clients.
Thank you, Tara!
Asking myself questions about what it is I’m afraid of and then inviting it in to visit and then go.
Taking things one small step at a time. Not avoiding what one fears.
A supportive community who practice recovery from addiction and my community on the Buddhist path.
To go within ourselves and find the dark places is not a bad thing. It is ok to be afraid it is ok to want to run. If we can see our heart as a portal to strength as a haven to love it wi open and fear El subside.
Neutrons that wire together fire together. Oh my that was a great statement Tara I was Afib and my heart was fixed by firing neurons to zap me back to steady rhythm. to bud scar tissue so my heart would fire correctly. This procedure is called a ablation . As my heart ❤ healed it remained Ia constant beat. I was constantly using my heart rate monitor app to. check. One day I noticed that I trusted ny heart to work properly. I opened my heart and listened. I started singing baking going to see the sunrise.and fear went away.
Recently zi had a horrendous fall down a 6 foot trap door in my bathroom. Sitting there on pain fear kicked in. I was aware but I was afraid. . I looked at the stone wl smelled d the earth and then my mind took over. In the aftermath I am mindfull of that place.
Painful emotion pain anger and fear Stop running .let fear be your friend . Befriend your pain and anger. Breathe with it Create havens in your heart. Haven if calm sense joy .
Thank you Tara for this another opportunity to seek peace . May this course bring us all back to our true selves. Nameste
Normalizing the fear and providing some psycho ed about its function. And then meeting it with a lot of compassion and acceptance.
for me to t be able to listen. for the client to be heard. However, through phases of life we are reminded of forgotten or repressed traumas.
My religious faith.
Tara, thanks for the reminders, what I encouraged my clients to do is to pay attention to what is causing the fear, name it, look at the stories, he/she might be telling self to generate such fear and to change same to a more balance perspective. This technique helps along when I incorporate the cognition because fear does not exist in isolation. Thanks