By Maribel Garcia Valls, MPH, ACC with Bee Happi
Here is a quick visualization exercise about fear. Take a few moments to find a quite space to practice this exercise, then journal about your experience.
A Visualization Exercise To Get Comfortable with Fear
Imagine yourself falling into a dark hole. You fall deeper and deeper into this black abyss. You don’t know where it ends or where you are going. The only thing you know is that you are falling and scared. The initial shock wears off and you gain some sense of control.
As you realize that you can’t control your current situation, you decide to control your inner peace instead. When you do this, tiny bright lights begin to appear. This calms you and you feel less afraid.
You are no longer falling, you are flying and this gives you joy. Then more lights turn on. Now, you can see where you are going. You realize that the darkness was created by your fear and your bravery brought out the light.
Now take a deep breath and shout:
“GET THE FEAR OUT OF HERE! I am brave!”
What is fear? According to Psychology Today, fear is “An anxious feeling, caused by our anticipation of some imagined event or experience.”
Fear is a little monster in the dark that pops up sometimes when you want to make a change. Fear floods your mind with “what if’s” and doubts. Getting past your fears can be scary. It means taking risks and not knowing that everything will be ok. Sometimes, getting to comfortable in these safe spaces prevents many people from living out their best life with authentic happiness.
If you liked this exercise, then you’ll love this one.
Final Happy Thoughts
Being open to the experience of fear and the “uncomfortable zone” is important. As you evolve and grow in the process of self-discovery, consider reeducating your mind about fear.
Fear is an important emotion for when you are in danger and it gets weakened with overuse. Training your mind to use fear effectively will help you rest the emotion when you are safe. It will also give you the full strength of the emotion the next time you get chased by a lion or experience real danger.
Here are some inspiring works from Marianne Williamson:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?…
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
