What are you scared of? This will help.

Today we went to a Sea Life Centre – full of families oohing and aahing over tiny ‘Nemos’ and massive turtles and even sharks (although to be fair they weren’t the Jaws kind and seemed well-fed enough)

Pig-tailed toddlers and babies strapped to Dads pressing their noses up against the giant Piranha tank… perfectly safe behind thick glass.
And obviously, there was a gift shop – was conned out of £2.50 for a pink stone.

However.

With us was a very brave, kick-ass friend of ours, who has conquered mountains and all kinds of daring feats and challenges most of us would run a mile from.

But Sea Creatures were her nemesis.

When you are afraid, there is no reasoning with it.
No ‘talking some sense’ into yourself.

The glass might as well not be there and the shark really is just about to eat you.

You’re locked in a personal battle with fear, that comes from deep in a powerful part of your mind, and overrides all logic.

Imagine a solid mountain that IS your fear (sea creatures, heights, public speaking, spiders, whatever it is…) and you often need to get to the other side of it.

So you avoid it.
Make excuses and arrangements so you don’t have to look at it, or even think about it.

You walk around the mountain

The problem with that – is that’s a long walk.
(even if you don’t mind long walks, it’s not the sort that feels worthwhile)

It feels like a waste of time and it’s especially annoying as you can see the shortcut right in front of you.

You can push through to face your fear… but it’s not the same as conquering it.

It’s like running up and over the mountain with your eyes shut, terrified, shouting:

“I did it – happy now????”

If you never want to face it again – it’s still there.

Anxiety, Fears and phobias are issues which we often help within our professional work with people in hypnotherapy and coaching.

We can show you how the mountain isn’t what you think.
How it’s actually tissue-paper thin.
And how to tear it down.

But for today – if you have to face a situation where your fears could affect your happiness, here are 4 things you can do to feel better.

(Do them in order)

1. Breathe

Our breath is the most powerful mind-hacking tool we have.
Close your eyes, take some deep breaths and count them.
Notice how taking charge of your breathing and slowing it down almost instantly makes you feel calmer… then:

2. Find Proof

Look for what is safe. When we focus on the thing that worries us we can get tunnel vision and tune out the rest of the World.
Locate all the proof that you’re safe, the people you’re with, the chair holding you up, the solid ground.
Find the normal. Say it out loud.

3.Question

When your mind is racing a mile a minute – so it’s time to take the reins. Pinpoint the root of exactly what is making you feel this way. And keep asking why. When you do this the chaos can slow to a rhythm that’s easier to cope with.

4. Notice

Now you have steady, even breathing, you’ve found proof that you’re safe, identified the root of the problem and taken a firm grip on the reins:
Fully inhabit moment the moment you are in..

Using your senses, try this simple Mindful exercise and notice:

5 things you can see
4 things you can touch
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell, and
1 thing you can taste… even if it’s simply the back of your hand!

Try it and if that felt helpful, why not write down those 4 words to remind you, next time fear is robbing you of the happiness you deserve.

and if you want to learn more of what we do to help you feel better, mind, mood, body & food.. head to www.wiseandgorgeous.com

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