Life Without Fear - Sep 1

In today's 5 Minutes in Nature Liz reflects on what life would be like in the absence of fear. If the frightening stories we told ourselves didn't exist, what would be different in our lives? The invitation today is to ask yourself that question, 'What would my life be like without fear?'

Transcript

Hello and welcome to Five Minutes in Nature with me, Liz Scott, Up on Dartmoor. The sun is shining, There's a lovely cool breeze and I'm pausing by a five-bar gate overlooking a field. There are a couple of sheep grazing beside me on the hedgerow. I can see amidst the green of the blackthorn, The dark purple of slowberries as they're starting to ripen in the hedgerow. And in front of me are two sheep They've just run by me, Feeling very brave, No doubt, So they've raced by me and they've just started grazing again. And today's reflection is all about fear. Do you remember we started this conversation yesterday, And yesterday we were just exploring how fear shows up in different ways. Sometimes it shows up a little bit like with these sheep, They see something, It startles them and they rush by, They run away. It makes a lot of sense. They're a prey animal. You know, They have a right to be frightened. In the food chain, They are potentially lunch for something else. But in our lives, Look at fear, We often find that fear shows up in very many different ways and different guises. And yesterday we looked at things like it shows up maybe as rage or as insecurity or maybe as people pleasing. I mean, There are probably as many ways that fear shows up as there are people. It will show up in a different way in your life, That kind of sense of discomfort in your life. And today's reflection is, Well, What would it be like to live without fear? Like, What would life be like? If you could live without fear. Now, I'm not talking about getting rid of fear completely, Because when it comes to keeping me safe, It's a really helpful thing. My heart rate goes up, I breathe more quickly, I'm poised to run away from danger. That kind of fear, Really helpful. I don't want to get rid of that. But the kind of fear that I'm talking about, And I'm gonna share how it shows up for me in my life, The kind of fear that I'm talking about is the kind of fear that holds us back, Holds me back, Or has me turn up in a way in the world that I'm not happy with. So for me, I began to realize in this conversation with my friends, We were having this conversation all about fear, And I was with my friends, And I realized that one of the ways I am held back back in life. One of the ways I feel fear is that I am almost constantly on alert, Hiding my light. Not wanting to shine fully in the world. And when I was speaking to my friends and they listened in this non-judgmental, Supportive way, So I felt absolutely free to speak and explore whatever needed to be said, I realized something that I hadn't realized before, Is that I am hiding. And I'm hiding because I am scared of shining in the world, Of being myself in the world, Of being authentic in the world. And why am I scared of that? Because I have a fearful story. That has me think that if I were to be completely authentic in the world and shine fully and brightly in the world, People might judge me and not like me. And the worst thing possible for me is that If I were judged harshly because of the truth of who I was, That would feel devastating. I'd feel vulnerable rather than at the moment I hide myself. So I'm not showing up fully. And then if people don't like me, It's like, Well, They're not seeing all of me. So this is okay. It's a weird logic, But that's just how it occurred to me today. I was, As I was speaking, The question that I find most powerful though, Is what would it be like to turn up in life without fear? What if that wasn't present in me? My life? What if I just turned up and shone in the world in whatever way felt relevant? What if I was this beacon of love and joy, And it shone through me without excuse, Without apology? It just shone. And just a little word of caution here. I am not looking for you in any way, Shape or form to try and make me feel better. I really, Really am not looking for that. I don't need that. The question I really want you to ask yourself and ask it truthfully and honestly is what would my life be like if fear wasn't present? How would I show up in life? That's the question I want us to explore together today. Let me know your reflections. And of course, Don't forget to join me again tomorrow for another five minutes in nature.

Reviews

This is a great continuation of yesterday’s reflection. I think I would be more joyful, more playful, ‘lighter’ I wouldn’t take everything so seriously… I’m doing this as an experiment today, every time a fearful thought comes into my mind i stop and say “I have no fear” and immediately, a smile appears and I feel more peaceful 😌
I look forward to your perspective on this. 🙏🏼

Shining my light in the world has been in my mind for the past decade. Not so much as a goal, but as a way of being. It’s not a constant state for me, but one that I move in and out of. I find now in my mid 60s that it is getting easier, but it was quite a stretch for me 10 years ago. The feeling I have that I need other’s approval has diminished greatly for me in this last decade and that has made the process easier. Without that need for approval, I am free to be me, my authentic self, a light in this world.

Happy September 1st.

For me it is me playing over and over something I said to another person and wondering they took what I said. I can create stories around that they may think less of me etc.

To alleviate it I usually breathe and forgive myself.

I see your light. Thank you for sharing Liz. ✌️❤️

If I could live without fear I would be able to embrace all my neurodiverse quirks without embarrassment or explanation and feel fully supported and seen. It has been easier since my self diagnosis but inevitably not all of those to whom I've talked to about my neurodiversity believe me nor are they supportive. Whilst I don't feel an official diagnosis is necessary for me, I do sometimes wonder if it would help me to feel that I could embrace myself fully.