Cures for Fears

I don't think I've ever experienced a period in my life when the collective consciousness has been so fear-obsessed. If there is, as scientists tell us, an invisible energy field all around us, it seems as if the world's mindset has glommed onto the fear frequency with a vengeance. I'm sure you are feeling the angst and worry around you just as I am. And while it's certainly true that there are lots of uncertainties "out there" this I know: what we focus on expands. So in the interest of giving you something besides fear to focus on, this week I offer you my top ten "cures for fears," with a reminder that regardless of the conditions or circumstances we face it is more often than not our attitudes toward them that matter the most.

1. Start making a daily gratitude list and review it often. I've written frequently about the power of gratitude, as have others wiser and more eloquent than I. But suffice it to say, as long as you're counting your blessings you can't simultaneously be counting your fears and worries. When fear and worry pop in for a visit, be ready to shoo them off with a list of things you're grateful for.

2. Create a game plan. If you're worried about cutbacks on the job, make a list of options for ways you might supplement or replace your income if necessary. Decide now on what expenses you'll cut and start cutting them before you have to. I've discovered that having a game plan is a great way to reduce fear and anxiety about the "what ifs." And writing your plan out makes it real and tangible; so don't just think about doing it...do it!

3. Hang out with happy, optimistic people. The last thing any of us needs to be doing right now is contributing to the doom and gloom running rampant. Sitting around complaining or reciting the most recent bad economic news is a sure-fire way to both depress yourself and stoke the fires of fear. And there is ample research that suggests (read Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman) that optimistic people survive all kinds of challenges more effectively than pessimists. Choose your company wisely.

4. Pray or meditate. One of my favorite spiritual teachers and writers Ekhart Tolle talks about "the noise machine in the head." That noise machine is the one that constantly cranks out fear-based projections or drags around old business from the past. Prayer and meditation are proven ways to reduce and even turn off the mental noise machine. Even a few minutes of internal silence has a calming effect on the mind and body.

5. Listen to great music. I've recently begun listening to more classical music...Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin. And I notice an amazing thing, the music is so powerful that I lose my mind in it! I know, all of you who long-ago discovered the centering power of music, I admit to being a little late in the game. But my advice: find music that takes you out of your head and indulge yourself regularly.

6. Go to a nursery or botanical garden. Okay, you could also garden but I'm not there yet. However just spending time around beautiful living plants has a calming, healing effect. A friend and I recently took off for an afternoon at the nursery, and it was hugely therapeutic. Breathing in the smell of dirt, seeing the array of blooming plants and watching the koi and turtles paddle gently in a pond was a great reminder that life is so rich, apart from our bank accounts. I even bought one of those beautiful color pots, which thanks to my husband (who knew they needed water?) is thriving!!

7. Laugh. The old saying that laughter is the best medicine is true. Find a way to inject daily humor into your life. Watch funny movies. Get on You Tube and get a dose of humor watching whatever makes you laugh. Laughter really is medicine. It releases endorphins, the "feel good" neurotransmitters of the brain. No doctor required, no deductibles and the side effects are all good!

8. Volunteer your time tutoring children, serving meals to people at shelters, or visiting the elderly in assisted living facilities. I recently gave an hour of my time to speak to a group of fifth graders about the power and importance of goal setting. Believe me, what I got back from that experience lifted my spirits for a week! Their joy, exuberance (by the way, these were students from a low-income, at-risk school) and interest were a great reminder that giving truly is receiving. And it's almost a "law" that doing something for someone less fortunate than you is a great way of putting things into perspective.

9. Get out in nature. We live on an absolutely beautiful and amazing planet that we take for granted most of the time. With springtime on the horizon, this is a perfect time of year to get into nature. I find that being in the natural environment is a great antidote to fear. You see I figure if the mountains, trees, wildlife, seasons, migrating whales and every other facet of nature takes its course with no interference, fear or worry on my part, there must be a greater order at work. I'm trusting in that order to keep on working in my life; nature reminds me that it's there.

10. Read something inspiring and uplifting. Poetry, inspirational literature, spiritual texts, a great novel, biographies of people who have overcome great obstacles to achieve great things (hey, even my book Living a Five Star Life*), will remind you that "tough times never last, but tough people do." Fill your mind with messages and images of hope and inspiration to see you through the fear. We always have a choice about what to fill our minds with. Again, choose wisely.

I know it's tough out there. But if "out there" is a reflection of what's going on inside the collective mindset, then we owe it to ourselves to choose activities that help us focus on something besides the fear. If you have other antidotes to fear, I'd be delighted to have you share them.

Now go out there and have a fearless week!

Quote of the Week:

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Living a Five Star Life

This collection of 27 inspirational messages will help you focus on living with greater joy, authenticity and abundance. To purchase a copy go to www.dynamic-coaching.com and click on the picture of the book or visit www.simpletruths.com and type in "Living a Five Star Life".

Just finished "Living a 5 star life". It gets my 5 stars. I love coming to my office and rereading the chapters, as I can relate to all of it. I have put into practice some of your teachings and I feel better about myself. Thank you for a great book.

- Don K.

"Transforming Your Potential into Performance!"
Betty Mahalik, PCC Life & Business Coach, Trainer bettym@dynamic-coaching.com www.dynamic-coaching.com	Dynamic Solutions 5240 Mustang St. Las Vegas, NV 89130 tel: 702 658-4425 fax: 702 658-5802 mobile: 702 443-0175
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