ARTICLE: What if we Stop Indulging Fear and Romance the Shadow?

This was originally published via Linked In on February 1, 2020.

What if our relationship with fear instead of fear itself is the challenge we need to engage with? 

Fear has been used by governments, religions and businesses to divide us. When we can understand those fears, learn to listen to them, learn from them, and be at peace with them, all kinds of new possibilities open up. 

Personally more choices open up, you get closer to your true purpose, and you’re able to live more authentically. Collectively, by exploring our fears we can align to shared purpose. Empathy not only becomes possible, it’s a byproduct. What divides us (fear) is the bridge that unites us. 

This dynamic is more important to understand than ever because the world, in general, is experiencing a lot of uncertainty and anxiety. On a macro level, we’re facing climate change, consumer activism, generational shifts and political divisiveness. These all lead to a heightened sense of general anxiety. As a result, many people momentarily lose their ability to choose how they respond. Worst of all, we know we need to change, and we don’t know how to. And on a personal level, amidst all these accelerating changes and challenges, all too often many of us just feel … stuck. And that can be terrifying. Due to this, our unintentional reactions (mistakes we keep making) come from an unexamined relationship with our fear; at both a macro (business, political, systemic) and micro (personal) level. 

Fear often prevents people from making choices that reflect who they really are, and in some cases fear prevents people from staying true to their purpose. But more and more people are discovering that when you change your relationship with fear, shift is possible. My work has led me to realize that there are 8 Basal Fears © we all share. When we approach them with awareness, curiosity and courage we gain an understanding of our own fears, so we can form a deeper connection with our purpose, our authentic identity, and our ability to choose. We can more naturally and effectively empathize with another. Our fears serve as the ultimate equalizer. 

So… What if you could shift unintentional reactions to intentional responses? The freedom to escape from boxed-in thinking and systems that aren’t serving us exists. To live in choice versus “should’s”. The freedom to be your authentic self and express your truth. In other words, to live “on purpose”. To begin to free ourselves by using the very fears that hold us back. And in doing so, create genuine community and connect through purpose. 

Fear is courage unrealized. So I ask you, what are you afraid of? Where do you notice choices of your own that don’t quite reflect who you really are? Just imagine what could become possible for you when you approach the shadow of fear with courage.