Welcome to your Reflective Meditation.
This is another one where you're welcome to sit with your eyes closed and feel the words while in stillness.
Or you can listen while moving through another mindful activity.
Just be sure you're giving yourself full present moment awareness to honor this time for yourself.
Today,
We will be reflecting on the fears that hold us back from living our lives fully.
Now take a moment to notice what happened in your body or your mind when I even mentioned the word fear.
Did you tense up a little?
Was there some hesitation?
Maybe there's a thought that this will be a tough reflection because of the subject matter.
And maybe it will be.
That's okay.
But maybe there's also some relief that can come with reflecting on this emotion as well.
Fear is a primal,
Universal,
Human emotion.
That acts as a means for survival.
It's an experience triggered by perceived threats that initiate a physical fight or flight or freeze response within us.
These feelings of a racing heart.
Extreme alertness,
Or intense overwhelm that may make us want to run away.
Climb into bed and pull the covers over our heads.
Or distract ourselves with something shiny.
So that we don't feel the discomfort when fear arises.
In reality,
The emotion of fear is not a bad thing.
We often think it's something we have to turn away from.
Or feel less and less in our lives as we get older.
And although it's very helpful to create an environment for ourselves that we can thrive in without constantly being afraid of what's next,
Just know that the experience of fear,
That emotion that you feel,
May be there for a reason.
And it's something that is conveying a message for us to hear.
Fear arises when there's something we need to pay attention to.
But the thing is,
Because of how unpleasant it feels,
Fear is often something we avoid at all costs.
And when it comes up,
Instead of leaning into it or reflecting on why it's there.
We might do any and all things to try and make that fear go away.
So remember that fear is not a bad thing.
But fear does become a problem when we let it stop us from living our lives to the fullest.
Of course,
There is warranted fear.
We shouldn't push through the feeling if we are in actual danger.
However,
What we're focusing on today are the fears that are holding us back.
Those fears that are holding us from making a decision that can move our lives forward.
Those things that,
Once we work through them,
A level of our life can become unlocked.
So that we feel more free.
More willing to try.
And more trusting in ourselves that we will get through what is holding us back.
For some of us.
This fear shows up as the anxieties around the future,
If we go for it.
Fear of failure.
Fear of rejection.
Fear of judgment or criticism.
Fear of not being enough.
And ultimately,
Maybe a fear of change.
Being alone.
Or of something being out of our control.
There's often a what-if process that might take place with these fears.
What if I put my all into this,
And I don't succeed?
Is it energy wasted?
What if people don't like me and I'm not accepted?
Does it mean I don't belong?
What if people think poorly of me?
What if I feel stupid for trying?
What if people actually see the real me?
What if I don't know how to be with this new reality?
It is completely normal to have these fears rise up.
And it's a completely human experience.
However,
It's up to us.
If we want to continue to choose.
To let those fears stop us from moving forward.
One of the most powerful exercises we can experiment with in our lives.
Is dipping our toe into the pool of possibility.
Not just if it might scare us.
But especially when it does.
Rest assured we're not jumping into the deep end.
If we're deathly afraid of heights,
We don't have to force ourselves to go skydiving.
But we do want to dip our toe into that pool of possibility,
Especially when we notice that we stop ourselves from trying because we predict that it'll be hard.
We think we might be uncomfortable.
We are afraid of what we might lose.
Those are actually signals from the Universe that on the other side of trying,
And then trying some more.
And then trying again.
That's where the magic lives.
Because that's where positive change can take place.
Starting to make healthier life choices,
Yeah,
It's gonna be tough at first.
But it will lead to a vitality in your entire being.
That propels you into a new level of well-being and quality of life that is so worth each small little decision to care for your future self.
Sharing your vulnerable,
True self on social media and not getting a response?
Yeah,
Things might not gain the traction that you were hoping for immediately.
But keep showing up.
For yourself.
And the one person who needs to hear your story.
And you will reach the audience that is meant for you.
Saying yes to the opportunity that has been presented to you to work with a startup.
Try your hand at something you've been interested in but haven't let yourself dive in fully.
Or even move to a new state or country.
If it's calling to you and you think to yourself,
I might look back and regret not trying this out.
Then it's time to give it a go.
Even if it doesn't work out exactly as you picture it in your mind.
You never know.
Where it might lead.
The decisions that you make today.
Will help to lead you in the direction that you're meant to be in tomorrow.
You are always on the right path in life.
Even when there are detours.
Take a moment to think of something you've been wanting to do.
Try.
Or make moves around where you've been letting fear stop you.
We're going to imagine that we're setting all of those former what-ifs up on a little shelf to the side.
We've already mulled over all of them.
And there's a perception in our nervous system that letting those what-ifs stop us has kept us safe.
That may be true in the past.
So take a moment to thank your past self for keeping you safe.
But now we can recognize that the safety that we created isn't something that was saving our life.
But it was saving us from some kind of hurt.
Or some kind of lesson.
That we could actually learn in order to continue to grow.
And this time.
We're going to lean into different kind of what-if statements.
What if it all works out?
Let that settle into your body a little bit.
What if it all works out?
What if going for it leads me to a life I couldn't even dream of right now?
But it's just waiting for me to take a step.
What if the possibilities are endless when I reach beyond the fears that are keeping me small?
What if my life felt more free?
When I release the hold.
That the fear has had on me.
What if being afraid to try is actually a signal?
That it will be so worth it on the other side.
Sit or stand a little bit taller.
Knowing that the only thing that stands between you and me and your life well lived.
Is a fear that you've allowed to get in the way and stop you.
Don't beat yourself up.
Remember that it was something that felt like it kept you safe.
But now with this awareness.
You have the power to say.
No fear.
I'm not going to let you dictate how I live my life.
I'm ready to take the steering wheel back.
And I will no longer stand in my own way of trying.
I will no longer stand in my own way.
I will no longer use the excuse of my fear.
I set this fear down now.
And I will go for it anyway.
My life is unfolding beautifully.
And when I move this fear out of the way,
The possibilities are endless.
Take a deep breath in.
And sigh your breath out.
Now go out there and do something that you've stopped yourself from doing before.
And know that it's okay if the fear still exists.
But do it anyway.
And try again.
And let yourself fail,
Because failure is an opportunity to learn and redirect your energy.
And then try yet again.
You've got this.
You have that little shelf of all the what-ifs that you can continue to set your fear on anytime.
Your past fear may arise again.
Be kind to it.
And remind it that you're in the driver's seat now.
And that you'll be using the energy of that fear as fuel.
To live the life you want to be living.
Thank you so much for sharing this reflection with me today,
And I look forward to our next session together.
