More on fear

Reading from Wednesday, February 26, 2014 yoga class

Some more thoughts and words on the fifth klesha, Abhinivesha (fear of death), ie  Anxiousness, worry, control.  Remember with this klesha, practice "what is" rather than "why is it."

The following is from an article that appeared in a Kripalu workshop catalog, by Lauren Mackler, a psychotherapist who has an upcoming workshop in March 2014 at Kripalu.

"When we're born, each of us is a whole human being with unique potential.  We have innate personality traits, certain strengths and abilities, and a healthy and intact self-esteem.  We have no inhibitions, so we have the ability to feel, and to express our feelings in a spontaneous and natural way.  Then our life conditioning begins.  The family, environment, circumstances, and experiences we grow up with play an enormous role in determining whether our innate wholeness remains intact, or whether our authentic self becomes buried beneath patterns of insecurity, unworthiness, anger, avoidance, people-pleasing, fear or other self-defeating patterns.

In my years of working with individuals and groups, I've learned that one of the most common barriers to living boldly is fear.  If your're living from a place of fear, you're not free to take risks or pursue your passions.  If your energy is expended in avoiding failure, rejection, or criticism by withdrawing from the people and situations that trigger your fears, then that energy is tied up in staying safe instead of in achieving your goals.

Most of the fears that keep us playing small are not even based on our current reality.  They're the product of imagined fears conjured up in our minds.  I refer to FEAR as "Fantasized Events As Real."  Fear rears its head when people attempt to move beyond their comfort zones.  Staying within your comfort zone doesn't necessarily mean you're happy there.  Instead of resisting, acknowledge your fear... I'm afraid I will fail, I'm afraid I'll be rejected, I'm afraid I won't make enough money.  Figure out if your fears have any real basis in fact.

Whatever you're currently doing that keeps you from living boldly, identify it and take the opposite action--one that will help you to override the old patterns."