Regarding the current collective climate of global uncertainty, are you in or are you out? With the internet, especially social media, overflowing with advice, opinions, and misinformation, and with the constant stream of breaking news from around the world, it can feel as though the noise itself is one of the biggest challenges we face.
The current level of fear and anxiety is high, but will succumbing to it help? In fact: no.
With a strong and healthy body, mind and spirit you will be better able to protect your overall wellbeing during times of stress and uncertainty. In addition to following general self-care practices, keeping a calm mind and a strong inner state can be one of your best supports.
A 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison investigation concluded that emotions impact our likelihood to contract the flu. In short, it was found that those experiencing particularly intense negative emotions produce fewer antibodies. Accordingly, it’s more than likely that positive emotions can help improve your immune system and decrease the risk of getting ill.
The stronger we are within, the stronger the protection
Many studies have been conducted, but to mention one more, psychologist Doctor Sheldon Cohen and colleagues at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania squirted the Rhinovirus, which causes colds, into participants’ noses. It was determined, through daily interviews, that those scoring in the bottom third for positive emotions were three times more likely to catch a cold than those in the top third. To put it bluntly, people expressing more positive emotions are less likely to catch upper respiratory tract infections than those with negative emotions. Interesting, right?
The fear bubble
Many of us inhabit the same collective and mostly unconscious fear bubble. This holds especially true given the current state of the world. Most people are completely unconscious of the functioning of this fear bubble, but, in short, fear feeds fear, and fear controls us.
In any moment, each one of us is something like a radio tower emitting a signal. This signal represents how I project myself into the world. A similar energy is attracted in return, influencing the situations and encounters that I experience in life. The fear vibrations that we live and emit attract the same in return, more fear and a low vibration.
Staying in fear mode for long, we risk spiralling down a black tunnel, deeper and deeper. It may feel like we are drilling down into the centre of the earth, but what is really going on is we are getting nearer to the centre of our self, which, in fear, will seem like a dark place.
One way to avoid dealing with our emotional pain is to seek quick fixes. Incessantly watching online news or checking out social media can offer instant relief despite it being negative news, but we remain imprisoned. Why is that? It can be that we have become addicted to the rush produced in the body when feeling fear. This is something to reflect on and pay attention to.
Common fears and how to handle them
In addition to the fear that the current state of global affairs induces, there are many different types of fear, including very personal ones. There is the fear of not being good enough or worthy enough, and there is the fear of falling ill. And there is the fear of death. The other side of the coin is that this level of fear can help us re-prioritise our lives.
Fears are complex, there is no denying this. Many fears show us that there is a conflict between different aspects of ourselves. At times it’s as if we are made up of multiple selves wanting different things and rather than making a wrong decision, we remain indecisive and in fear. It is especially tough when many fears show up at the same time.
Often deeply rooted in our sub-conscious, fears may stem from childhood experiences. Housed in different cells in our body, these fears can be accessed through various healing modalities. One such modality is Quantum Energy Coaching (QEC), which I practice. But there are many options, perhaps even some practiced by your trusted circle of friends. Do ask around!
Here are a few pointers that might help lessen your fears with immediate effect:
- Fears are projections of your mind.
- Think about it, is a fear a real 'thing'? No.
- Fears are so overwhelming, crippling, depleting… that they feel real.
- The moment you take a deliberate decision to look at your fears directly, you start to dismantle their powers. Feel your fears but importantly stay as the witness. Don’t get involved in the stories of your fears.
- Detachment is a skill which needs practicing.
Some immediate strategies for when in the grip of fear(s):
- When a fear, or any negative emotion for that matter, overcomes you, bring your awareness to your heart. Imagine you breathe slowly into your heart. Repeat five times, counting until five for each in and out breath. You are establishing a connection with your body which will ground you.
- Tap the side of your palm and say “I release all fear now”. Continue doing this for as long as needed. This technique is adapted from Emotional Freedom Technique or short EFT, also known as tapping.
- Last but not least: Retreat. The current global situation is the best time to retreat to go within in order to re-emerge with strength and resilience. The world is changing in front of our eyes and we want to get ready to embrace that which is awaiting us.
Interested in working with Claudia to release fear or tension one on one? Click here to find out about her private retreats in the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside.
