Here’s a snapshot of me running into my old nemesis fear.
Oh no. It’s my fear. Better get out of here, or freeze.
“Hey you! Yeah, you. You know I'm talking to you. Think I can’t see you cause you’re frozen like a little rabbit. Want some carrots?” sneers fear. (Fear has a maniacal laugh like Dr Evil in Austin Powers)
So I run, run, run away, so far so fast that there’s no way fear will find me again, only to ram right into it the next day, or two weeks later, or in five years time.
“Sh#t it’s you again,” I say crying/screaming/disbelieving.
“Boo!" says fear. “Happy to see me? I’ve been waiting for you. Ok run again my little fool. I’ll meet you around the corner. Isn’t this fun?”
Ok this time I’ll hide from fear. I’ll make myself real small. I won’t stand out in any way. Keep my mouth shut. Don’t get too excited about life. Don't attract any attention. Just blend right in with the mainstream. That should do it.
“Ah ha! Oh I really enjoy a good game of hide and seek. Why don’t you try shrinking even more, or giving up a bit more? Oh I know, have another glass of wine. That might do it,” says fear having a great time.
And on and on my saga with fear continues. Fear is the hunter and I am the prey. Now what if I turn this situation around and stop being the huntee? No more chicken hiding in the roost. Say hello to bald eagle soaring up to my nest in the sky. To read more: MY website
If fear rules you, you probably will keep you mouth shut, If you are scared, you probably won’t love to the full capacity of your amazing heart or live your right life. You’ll say yes when you mean no. You’ll say no when you really mean a big yes. You’ll pretend you don’t know what you do in fact know.
If you are scared, you’ll stay small, making sure that you are not too noticed. You’ll dim your own light, your own joy, your own inner wisdom like there’s an air raid in the sky and you’ve turned off all the lights to make sure the enemy planes flying above don’t drop a bomb on you.
I have a fear that plagued me since I was a child. I tried outrunning it, I tried ignoring it. I kept my head deep in the sand when it came to this fear. Then one day, it came to a head and what I wanted was on the other side. I had to go through the fear. It was very hard and took much effort. It took every once of courage that I had to stand and remain present. How did I do it? My love was stronger than my fear that day.
What lies still in you unbloomed, like a seed that has not yet been given water and sunlight? What undiscovered strength, power, intention, force is waiting to come out to play and to enable you to live at a new level?
In my self talk, what am I saying about my fear? What am I saying about my power and strength? What am I saying about how I want to live and who I want to be?
I leave you today with this poem by Marianne Williamson.
Our Deepest Fear
By Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.
We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
Thanks for reading.
With love,
Maryse
PS. Here's a free chapter from my workbook Speaking to Yourself With Love, Transform Your Self Talk. It's a free gift for you if you'd like to explore self talk and courage. The chapter is called Saddle Up, Even When you are Scared. It contains stories and self talk tips, beautiful illustrations and loads of space to write and draw.
https://selftalklove.lpages.co/self-talk-love-choose-words-of-courage-chapter-download/