Accepting and befriending fear like all other emotions. Some polyvagal practices, breathing etc., and meditation help too, but accepting and getting to know my fear is the key.
Thank you for addressing this issue of fear. I have lived with it intensely for the last ten years and I thought I was the only one that was always afraid. Just knowing I am not the only one helps me feel better and knowing there is a way through it.
Casey Burns, Health Education, Beaverton, OR, USAsays
I am struggling with self-worth, anxiety, overwhelm, and the pandemic ever since I got sick and recovered from COVID. I had it 16 days and it was very traumatic. Now I don’t feel safe in the world. I don’t want to continue feeling this way.
I face my fears head on, but I must say that I probably am in the fight/flight mode when I do this and so the creativity, learning etc never happened. I am learning that I have to be mindful and sense my fears more to diminish them.
My fear is mainly post traumatic, so I find that it helps to focus on letting go of past events and being in the here and now where I’m no longer in danger as much as I can. Easier said than done, but I guess that’s why I need to keep practising.
I work on trying to find space between my fear and my Self that observes it. Then I breathe and talk very kindly to the part of me that is so afraid. 🙂🙏💜
What helps me to face fear are mainly two anchors: to have a safe haven at the same time, even if it is only inside of me, and also to know that this fear is pure humanity within.
Thanks for this wonderful workshop! Very insightful!
Breathing and allowing the feelings to just be there. It’s like facing the monster in a dream and realizing he’s a small and scared creature.
Thank you for the beauty of your work, Tara.
Giving myself the space to face fear, stopping, pausing and allowing exploration of what is causing the fear or anxiety and gently considering ways to change this. It often begins with breath, breathing slowly and allowing.
What helps me face fear is stopping to acknowledge that I am afraid. But then I’ve realized over that past 2 years that I am afraid all the time. My dreams (always nightmares) have shown me that since childhood.
I stop, use RAIN to ask: What do you need most? It’s so often Love, Acceptance, or Comfort (or all these).
Because I’m a meditator, I acknowledge to myself, “That’s a thought.”
The other new things I got from my Buddhist teacher that I find helpful if a thought pops up or something happens that’s difficult:
“It may be good. It may be bad. Don’t know.” This particular phrase is helpful because I realize that even a difficult ‘something’ may have a great outcome and vice versa with a good thing might have a not good outcome.
What helps me is ‘getting curious’ – learning to observe the physical sensations that arise, locating them in my body, letting them be, but ‘observing’ them – how do they feel? (‘big’, ‘small’, sharp, pressure, tension, etc.), so ‘getting to know them’. Wondering ‘why?’, ‘why there?’ – not seeking an answer or response, simply wondering and being open to whatever comes up or not.
Turned out to be the A & I of RAIN. Which has become a very helpful tool. Especially when helping others.
And breathing. Always breathing. Deeply. Into myself. Into the fear.
Thank you
Thanks for your calming wisdoms Tara, I listen to you when I feel fear to remind me how to deal with it. My buddhist teachers have taught me to see it: ‘Oh fear, you’re here..’ and then it’s manageable. So labelling it is one useful strategy I’m getting better at.
Regular mindfulness and RAIN practice. Also talking with good friends about what I’m experiencing. Yoga too. The breath is so very important to de-stressing body, mind and spirit.
I feel motivated to experience more freedom from the anxiety which over time can lead to depression. I have witnessed the darkest side of fears & understand the need to continuously work on creating space for this emotion & moving forward with inner confidence to serve myself, family & others in the healthiest possible way. Time in nature, practicing yoga and meditation daily has been most helpful 🦋
Because Jesus said nothing can separate me from
His love.
He’s with me always.
I need to focus where Jesus is at that moment.
Where I put my focus, it will magnify😍
I do enjoy these presentations very much, and they are helpful. I was at a place a few years ago where I truly felt I had overcome most of my fearful thinking and was really on top of things, but that has unfortuntely deteriorated, and I find I’m more fearful now than ever! But I am trying to work my way out.
Being present with animals (pets), nature, and exercise, especially outside in nature! Also, being with compassionate, non-judgmental people who are just “there for me” helps so much!
It took me years to understand in my body the fear reaction and be able to listen to it. Many crisis of anxiety, depression, suicidal attempts. Each one of those events in my life has guided me gradually to open my heart. Painful journey yes. I hated a lot of it. Today I see clearly that is what it took for me to love myself so I can love others.
Thank you Tara for all you gave freely to slowly uncover the jewel in each one of us.
Jim McCurdy, Another Field, Long Beach, CA, USAsays
A therapist I’ve been working with for quite a while suggested a long time ago now that I practice “leaning in” ever so slightly to uncomfortable emotions and then when the feeling became too intense consciously and deliberately “backing away” from it. That practice has, over time, enabled me to make progress in areas where I have been stuck for decades. I have also been practicing the R.A.I.N. technique, which is so very simple but SO effective. I used to attribute all that was wrong in my life to my past. Now I realize that my life is a journey replete with hills and valleys, joy and sadness, fear and peace. Allowing it all to be a part of my atmosphere is helping me to be more fully present and really engage with my life. 🙏🏼
I haven’t found anything yet which helps except medication to calm me down. Fear has been so overwhelming in my life that it has spiralled into panic attacks, even choking and cutting off my breathing on some occasions.
Suzanne Tubis, Another Field, Annapolis, MD, USAsays
The confidence that fear and pain serve as an extra motivation to grow helps me try to stay conscious In the face of them. I do not want to spend the rest of my life stuck in the grip of fear and pain and the Energetic and Emotional shut down caused by my avoidance of them.
What helps me face my fear is reducing the amount of tasks to be “completed”, staying in the present moment, not rushing and doing to many things at once, and doing grounding work-walking on the grass, hugging a tree, or sitting underneath a tree. Thank you for this Tara the first one was great looking forward to seeing the next parts of these sessions. Gina
Visualizing a bubble of Light around me, and sitting with whatever difficult emotion needs tender awareness and compassion.
Affirmations, like ‘I have dealt with a similar situation / feeling, and overcame it – so trust that I can do so again’.
Sometimes, running with a worry or fear – imagining it to an extreme unfolding of ‘what if’ scenarios, allows me to laugh about it, and somehow this lessens the actual fear.
Awareness of the feelings and thoughts then placing my hand on my heart and with gentle kind compassion toward my present moment breathing deeply and slowly. I have to acknowledge the power of spending time in nature also as a way to soften and experience wonder filled presence moment by moment
This practice breaks the stronghold of anxious toxic thought patterns and I am grateful to have this available to me🪶🙏
Thank you so much for your wise words. I find Mindfulness and being in nature helps; especially by the sea. I’m anxious but the anxiety lessens a little.
for myself when confronted I run towards physical fear , but I have run away from psychological fear ; the last one without even realising it until recently .
I have found it very difficult to accept and experience my fears. My approach now is to acknowledge my physical symptoms as fear, and reminding myself that it will be a part of my daily life.
Accepting and befriending fear like all other emotions. Some polyvagal practices, breathing etc., and meditation help too, but accepting and getting to know my fear is the key.
The kind reassurance from trusted family and friends.
Thank you for addressing this issue of fear. I have lived with it intensely for the last ten years and I thought I was the only one that was always afraid. Just knowing I am not the only one helps me feel better and knowing there is a way through it.
Hi, Tara!!
To realize to face fear, before it controls me and its out of control!
Thank you!
Petra
I am struggling with self-worth, anxiety, overwhelm, and the pandemic ever since I got sick and recovered from COVID. I had it 16 days and it was very traumatic. Now I don’t feel safe in the world. I don’t want to continue feeling this way.
Enbracing the unknown!
Breathing
Connecting to the fear and feel it fully and ask it why it’s there
Send love & light into it
Being aware of what you are doing, your habitual responses and unlearning them!
Self compassion and soothing touch has helped me greatly, even though it can feel like one tiny drop of progress at a time.
Deep breathing
Knowing I am not alone helps.
Acknowledgement is the first step
When facing fear accepting it as temporary usually helps. Also realizing that fears mostly are thoughtbased and we are not our thoughts.
xx
I face my fears head on, but I must say that I probably am in the fight/flight mode when I do this and so the creativity, learning etc never happened. I am learning that I have to be mindful and sense my fears more to diminish them.
Regular meditation practice, breathing, earthing.
My fear is mainly post traumatic, so I find that it helps to focus on letting go of past events and being in the here and now where I’m no longer in danger as much as I can. Easier said than done, but I guess that’s why I need to keep practising.
I work on trying to find space between my fear and my Self that observes it. Then I breathe and talk very kindly to the part of me that is so afraid. 🙂🙏💜
Very helpful. Thank you.
What helps me to face fear are mainly two anchors: to have a safe haven at the same time, even if it is only inside of me, and also to know that this fear is pure humanity within.
Breathing and focusing on the breath is helpful. Being outside in nature, talking to myself to change the focus.
Thanks for this wonderful workshop! Very insightful!
Breathing and allowing the feelings to just be there. It’s like facing the monster in a dream and realizing he’s a small and scared creature.
Thank you for the beauty of your work, Tara.
Giving myself the space to face fear, stopping, pausing and allowing exploration of what is causing the fear or anxiety and gently considering ways to change this. It often begins with breath, breathing slowly and allowing.
What helps me face fear is stopping to acknowledge that I am afraid. But then I’ve realized over that past 2 years that I am afraid all the time. My dreams (always nightmares) have shown me that since childhood.
I stop, use RAIN to ask: What do you need most? It’s so often Love, Acceptance, or Comfort (or all these).
Because I’m a meditator, I acknowledge to myself, “That’s a thought.”
The other new things I got from my Buddhist teacher that I find helpful if a thought pops up or something happens that’s difficult:
“It may be good. It may be bad. Don’t know.” This particular phrase is helpful because I realize that even a difficult ‘something’ may have a great outcome and vice versa with a good thing might have a not good outcome.
Love this thank you
What helps me is ‘getting curious’ – learning to observe the physical sensations that arise, locating them in my body, letting them be, but ‘observing’ them – how do they feel? (‘big’, ‘small’, sharp, pressure, tension, etc.), so ‘getting to know them’. Wondering ‘why?’, ‘why there?’ – not seeking an answer or response, simply wondering and being open to whatever comes up or not.
Turned out to be the A & I of RAIN. Which has become a very helpful tool. Especially when helping others.
And breathing. Always breathing. Deeply. Into myself. Into the fear.
Thank you
Thanks for your calming wisdoms Tara, I listen to you when I feel fear to remind me how to deal with it. My buddhist teachers have taught me to see it: ‘Oh fear, you’re here..’ and then it’s manageable. So labelling it is one useful strategy I’m getting better at.
Regular mindfulness and RAIN practice. Also talking with good friends about what I’m experiencing. Yoga too. The breath is so very important to de-stressing body, mind and spirit.
Thanks Tara
I feel motivated to experience more freedom from the anxiety which over time can lead to depression. I have witnessed the darkest side of fears & understand the need to continuously work on creating space for this emotion & moving forward with inner confidence to serve myself, family & others in the healthiest possible way. Time in nature, practicing yoga and meditation daily has been most helpful 🦋
Because Jesus said nothing can separate me from
His love.
He’s with me always.
I need to focus where Jesus is at that moment.
Where I put my focus, it will magnify😍
I do enjoy these presentations very much, and they are helpful. I was at a place a few years ago where I truly felt I had overcome most of my fearful thinking and was really on top of things, but that has unfortuntely deteriorated, and I find I’m more fearful now than ever! But I am trying to work my way out.
Being present with animals (pets), nature, and exercise, especially outside in nature! Also, being with compassionate, non-judgmental people who are just “there for me” helps so much!
It took me years to understand in my body the fear reaction and be able to listen to it. Many crisis of anxiety, depression, suicidal attempts. Each one of those events in my life has guided me gradually to open my heart. Painful journey yes. I hated a lot of it. Today I see clearly that is what it took for me to love myself so I can love others.
Thank you Tara for all you gave freely to slowly uncover the jewel in each one of us.
Being someone riddled with anxiety all my life, I appreciate the supportive and encouraging words and tone. Thank you.
Madeleine Boskovitz
A therapist I’ve been working with for quite a while suggested a long time ago now that I practice “leaning in” ever so slightly to uncomfortable emotions and then when the feeling became too intense consciously and deliberately “backing away” from it. That practice has, over time, enabled me to make progress in areas where I have been stuck for decades. I have also been practicing the R.A.I.N. technique, which is so very simple but SO effective. I used to attribute all that was wrong in my life to my past. Now I realize that my life is a journey replete with hills and valleys, joy and sadness, fear and peace. Allowing it all to be a part of my atmosphere is helping me to be more fully present and really engage with my life. 🙏🏼
I haven’t found anything yet which helps except medication to calm me down. Fear has been so overwhelming in my life that it has spiralled into panic attacks, even choking and cutting off my breathing on some occasions.
The confidence that fear and pain serve as an extra motivation to grow helps me try to stay conscious In the face of them. I do not want to spend the rest of my life stuck in the grip of fear and pain and the Energetic and Emotional shut down caused by my avoidance of them.
When I think of how short life is, or when I look back and think of how I was cowered by fear when I didn’t need to be…well that helps me face fear 🙂
Tx Tara, always a pleasure to listen to and learn
What helps me face my fear is reducing the amount of tasks to be “completed”, staying in the present moment, not rushing and doing to many things at once, and doing grounding work-walking on the grass, hugging a tree, or sitting underneath a tree. Thank you for this Tara the first one was great looking forward to seeing the next parts of these sessions. Gina
Being creative, being in nature are things I do daily to help process fear
Visualizing a bubble of Light around me, and sitting with whatever difficult emotion needs tender awareness and compassion.
Affirmations, like ‘I have dealt with a similar situation / feeling, and overcame it – so trust that I can do so again’.
Sometimes, running with a worry or fear – imagining it to an extreme unfolding of ‘what if’ scenarios, allows me to laugh about it, and somehow this lessens the actual fear.
Reframing, remembering my breath
Space and silence
Walking in nature and working with my breathe in meditation.
Awareness of the feelings and thoughts then placing my hand on my heart and with gentle kind compassion toward my present moment breathing deeply and slowly. I have to acknowledge the power of spending time in nature also as a way to soften and experience wonder filled presence moment by moment
This practice breaks the stronghold of anxious toxic thought patterns and I am grateful to have this available to me🪶🙏
Walking in Nature – being away in my campervan in beautiful places and all weathers!
Thank you so much for your wise words. I find Mindfulness and being in nature helps; especially by the sea. I’m anxious but the anxiety lessens a little.
for myself when confronted I run towards physical fear , but I have run away from psychological fear ; the last one without even realising it until recently .
What helps me face fear…the thought that the thing has to be done for the benefit of myself or others
Acknowledging the fear – and understanding the evolutionary aspect – so they recognise there is nothing wrong with them…they are ‘normal’
Being kind and patient with myself. Inviting my body to relax.
A kind and gentle reckoning of fear as it emerges in my body.:)
I have found it very difficult to accept and experience my fears. My approach now is to acknowledge my physical symptoms as fear, and reminding myself that it will be a part of my daily life.
Being able to accept fear as present, allow it, and be open and honest about my feelings and vulnerability – both with myself and others.