Reshaping Your Personal Narrative: Harnessing Fear to Foster Courage
How does fear impact you and how you live your life?
Today, we delve deep into the process of reshaping our personal narratives and the role of fear in our lives.
Fear is a perfectly natural human emotion, a sign that our brain is functioning just as it should. However, more often than not, we find ourselves trapped in fear-induced patterns. We convince ourselves that we can't handle difficult situations, and as a result, we avoid any circumstances that stir up fear. But what if we could use fear to our advantage?
Our fleeting feelings of fear, overwhelm, annoyance, and pain are all products of our beautifully complex human brains. Still, the power to acknowledge these feelings and then consciously pivot our minds towards more productive thoughts lies within us. By doing this, we can begin to script a new narrative for ourselves.
Reflect for a moment. Are there aspects of your life where you're stuck? Do you need a burst of courage? Is fear preventing you from expressing, acting, or transforming into your genuine self? Are you fearful of a potential future outcome? What's your personal story around fear?
Personally, I found my courage through honesty about my family's recent struggles. I've faced trauma, voiced my experiences, and lived with the daily pain of autoimmune challenges. However, I also caught myself underestimating my abilities as a mother because I couldn't shield my son from emotional distress. I realized this wasn't fair to his personal growth journey, so I decided to revisit a tool I created - the AND technique.
The AND technique, adored by many of my clients, is a method I designed based on powerful Cognitive Behavioral Tools:
"A" stands for Acknowledge: Understand and accept your brain's primal response to fear. Instead of avoiding your emotions, assure your brain, "Thank you for trying to protect me. Everything is going to be fine. I'm in control now."
"N" stands for Name: Announce your readiness for change and the need for courage. Pinpoint the empowering anchor thought you want to use. Remind yourself, "I choose to feel courageous in this moment. Yes, I'm scared, but I'll do it anyway. I've got this. Courage is my choice."
"D" stands for Direct: Focus your attention on courage, steering away from fearful thoughts. This calls for mindfulness and moment-to-moment awareness.
As you strive towards your goals and confront changes, fear will be inevitable. It's at these moments that you need to harness your courage. Do we remain within our comfort zone, shying away from challenges? Or do we boldly step out, bravely embracing the unknown?
I urge you to deliberately pursue situations that induce fear. After all, if you're not experiencing fear and utilizing courage, are you genuinely stretching your boundaries?
Your homework for the week is to practice the AND technique. A written summary is available here on the LOC blog.
In your journey, seek out courageous people who strive to make a positive impact in the world and uplift others. By empowering each other, we can create a synergistic effect of collective courage. Choosing a fulfilling life means embracing change and overcoming fear.
Remember Glinda the Good Witch's words, “You always had the power my dear, you just had to choose for yourself.” If you don't take the first step towards building courage, you'll remain trapped in the natural human fear of the unknown. It's when we choose to use courage that we genuinely begin rewriting our lives.