We have been faced with so much uncertainty these days. People have so much on their minds and fear just keeps taking over their entire existence... whether it’s fear of getting sick, fear of loosing someone you love, fear of loosing your job, fear of loosing your home, whatever it is, it’s all valid! And yes we do have to take appropriate precautions but we also have a choice to change our mindset. I have been learning to move from a fear-based experience to feeling a more open and peaceful one. I‘m learning to first take full responsibility and accountability that on some level I created the experience or feeling, and nobody else is to blame and now I choose to acknowledge, accept it and release it! The choice is truly ours. Do we choose to experience a fearful, limited life or do we choose a happy joyful life? It’s not easy and it takes practice but it is possible.Fear is a human emotion that is triggered by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism that signals our bodies to respond to danger with a fight or flight response or freeze. As such, it is an essential part of keeping us safe. However, when people live in constant fear, whether from physical dangers in their environment or threats they perceive, they can become incapacitated.Fear prepares us to react to danger.But living under constant threat has serious health consequences. * Physical health. Fear weakens our immune system and can cause cardiovascular damage, gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers and bowel problems. It can lead to accelerated ageing and even premature death.* Memory. Fear can impair formation of long-term memories and cause damage to certain parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus. This can make it even more difficult to regulate fear and can leave a person anxious most of the time. To someone in chronic fear, the world looks scary and their memories confirm that.* Brain processing and reactivity. Fear can interrupt processes in our brains that allow us to regulate emotions, read non-verbal cues and other information presented to us, reflect before acting, and act ethically. This impacts our thinking and decision-making in negative ways, leaving us susceptible to intense emotions and impulsive reactions. All of these effects can leave us unable to act appropriately.* Mental health. Other consequences of long-term fear include fatigue, clinical depression, and PSTD. Alongside stress, which in turn results in all of the above. So whether threats to our security are real or perceived, they impact our mental and physical wellbeing.So my suggestions to you is turn off the news and choose a happy and joyful activity and choose to change your mindset. Have an amazing Monday!!! Here's few of my favourite self-help books that I have enjoyed recently:)
The fear we may experience during these uncertain times
