BEING WITH FEAR

Very recently I experienced a low phase with my emotions playing havoc (mostly thanks to peri-menopausal hormone party in the body - which I'd definitely want to talk about in some future post because I feel that not enough conversation is happening around it!!). To add to it there was a fear that gripped me in ways that I haven't experienced in a very long time. 

This time my experience of being with the fear was transformative, and which is why I'm choosing to share the lessons here. Here is what worked -

• Recognising the fear, and calling it for what it is helped bring a sharp focus on that specific emotion, and ended any form of denial or confusion 

• Saying it out loud - 'I am scared' - in a safe space was a huge step in inviting that fear to step out of the shadow (I'm immensely grateful to my tribe for this...you know who you are!)

• Finally, just sitting with that fear to listen to what it had to say, because once it was out of the shadow then it had gifts of insights and blind-spot warnings for me

• Expressing gratitude that it came bearing these gifts completed the experience 

It showed me that fear is not to be avoided or overcome, but to be acknowledged, welcomed and partnered with. This probably extends to all emotions that we paint as 'negative'. 

So here's to the journey of just 'being' with our emotions, and then saying a nice thank-you once the gifts are received :)

I know some of my fellow travellers have already tapped into this wisdom of being with their emotions, and I now feel their words ring true for me.

No matter where you might be on this journey, I'd love to hear your experiences and lessons.

Picture: A couple of years ago, biking across Ladakh with my husband (I was just the posing pillion!)...pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone and finding a tribe along the way.