Finally the U.S. government has admitted that we are in a recession. This comes as no shock to those of us who have been feeling it for the last year. Unemployment has reached a level that hasn't been seen since 1974. Housing foreclosures are right around the corner for lots of folks. And there are lots of reasons to be fearful. In times like these, it's only natural that we start to shut down, protect ourselves and try to wait out the storm. But what we really need to do is open our hearts and try our best to connect to those around us in times of chaos like this.
In a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Deepak Chopra explains that,
"Fear deprives people of choice. Fear shrinks the world into isolated, defensive enclaves. Fear spirals out of control. Fear makes everyday life seem clouded with danger."
While fear is a natural response to danger, particularly in a time where that danger is pervasive we need to bring our best ideas, plans and strategies for making sure that everyone survives the storm. It is in times of crisis that humans are able to live our very best selves, to take a little bit less for ourselves so that someone else may have some, to get imaginative and find a way for everyone to find a place at the table.
Combatting fear can be tough thing to do. As a starting point, try one of these four strategies for living more fully.
1. Thank your intuition for the fear. Acknowledging the alarm bells, rather than denying them or distracting yourself from them, allows you to make a choice about what to do next.
2. Check into the present moment. Our fears are often anticipatory. They are rooted in things that might happen. We might lose our jobs. We might get sick. Check in with what is going on right now. If you are worried about losing your job, are you still working? Do you have good health right now? A place to live? Food to eat? If so, be grateful for what you have in this moment.
3. Imagine how you would like to be in your life. If you are feeling fearful, give yourself a moment to imagine yourself feeling very confident, calm, loving and connected to those around you. You are capable of handling whatever situations may arise. Let yourself experience this as concretely as possible imagining the position of your body as you stand confidently, the warmth of the sun on your skin. Lots of research has shown that visualizing like this makes it way easier to act in the ways you want to.
4. Connect, connect, connect. In times of fear, we tend to disconnect from others, to collapse in ourselves, to try to do it all alone. Unfortunately, not only do we do harm to ourselves by thinking we can weather the storm alone but also to our friends and family who are feeling fearful to and desperately need us to connect to them. We are tribal creatures who are at our best (and sometimes our worst) when we are together. Remembering this and allowing yourself to connect to others can at least make the storm a lot less lonely to weather.
What are your strategies with dealing with fear in the midst of chaos? If you were putting together a survival guide in times like ours what would you tell other people? Share your thoughts!
Scott Mills,Ph.D. is a life coach and consultant working to create passion, purpose and power in the lives of extraordinary people just like you. You can read more of his blogs or find out more about him at www.joyandbalance.com.
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