Fear Is Only Energy

I have been bullied in the workplace for the last 2 years. It has resulted in panic attacks and a breakdown. I am about to go back after sometime off, and before the thought of reentering that workplace was causing my body and mind to cramp up. I have decided today, NYDay 2012 that I will not give my power to others, and reconise and use my intuition to push fear aside.Sometimes easier said than done.

BHAG...Big Hairy Audacious Goal.  Sounds scary, doesn't it?

That's what they taught me in my MBA program.  Go for the BHAG if you want to make a difference.  So, that's what I'm working on, loving and fearing it all at the same time.  (it also seems like a BHM...Big Hairy Monster...yikes!)

But you've made several good points in your video, David, and seeing fear as simply energy is the best one.

I am remembering that from here on out and will and re-energize my BHM into my BHAG and maybe even transform those letters to mean Big Happy Amazing Goal instead (not so scary) :)

Thanks again, David!

Thanks David. I am going to transcribe this video. This is valuable advice. I will try to remember that fear is energy and it can be moved by letting it have room to "breathe". Often it is so easy to get paralyzed by fear- but with practice it can be the gateway to a really fulfilling life.

My brother has serious back problems, and he's really afraid he'll brake it if he goes with me to Arbraska, to climb the trees. You think not being afraid will prevent his back from being broken?

I grew up as a very shy girl, and now I have grown out of my shell a little, but I do find it hard to mingle with people I don't know, and tend to avoid situations like that. But I am working on it, and now I have committed myself to travelling with a friend to a 3rd world country where I will be totally out of my comfort zone. I've prepared myself and now I am really excited about the challenge I have set myself :)

Thank you

You dont know how much your videos help myself and people....Thank you again and god bless

How very timely! I started a new job yesterday. I'm learning how to perform my job tasks and was feeling pretty much useless for part of my shift...I remembered that my only real job is to stay present and do my best where I am...I was able to release the thoughts/feelings of being inadequate and truly began to "get" what I was supposed to do...
Very timely, indeed!

Thanks for sharing your experience. Sticking with something amidst discomfort is a great life skill. I almost quit many things that I now count my blessings about. Thanks for posting

This is totally what I do. If I am not really good at something right away, I give up. I figure I can't do it, so why keep trying.

I recently met a man, the first in 8 years, that I feel attracted and even connected to in a way. I know he is interested, as he said he would stop by, but the day after this comment was made, I could feel that he was uncomfortable with something. This brought forth fear in myself, which is something I haven't felt regarding the possibility of a relationship, in a very long time. I haven't even dated this past 8 years. I allowed all the thoughts to surface, then just decided that I have enough faith to know that if this possibility is meant to be, it will be. I went to bed unafraid, and woke up feeling confident in the choice I made the night before.

Thank you, David, for your message that on the other side of the fear is the life I'm visioning. I am learning to invest to take over management of our 401k and improve our growth of it substantially. I have been frustrated with the time that process is taking, afraid Im not learning it in time to save us financially, and afraid for us in our current financial situation. My fear has lessoned a lot through IS and the tools you have been teaching us. I didn't realize until I watched your video on fear that that is something specific I need to work on and release in my life. It hasn't stopped me from taking action, but I think it probably has hindered my progress. Thank you all who posted here, too.

I am very fearful of taking action. I know I am not where I want to be but all this thoughts that are coming to me are such a radical action that I doubt if is the right thing to do? that is the reason I am looking so much to learn more about my intuition.

Thank you for getting me closer to that place
Patricia

I would love nothing more than to conquer my fears. I have panic attacks daily as well as depression. This all started in 1996 and I have tried so many different things to let all this negativity go and pursue my passions in life but haven't found a way to let it go at this point.
It is a constant nightmare and I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy. Is there anything at all you can shed some light on to help me get past this and fulfill my dreams.
Sincerely,
Melanie

Hi Melanie,
I'm not sure if you've ever come across www.paniccentre.net
I've recently started on their 12 week program ( which is free). my panic attacks have not been as severe or long lasting as yours but this program has been a huge help getting me back on my feet, helping my family understand what I go through & looking at long & short term goals.
Good luck.
Jayne

totally fearful about not being as connected as I believe I am. I feel really apprehensive when asking someone to pay back money that they owe me... a lot of money and I get no response so I look at how I am being a. that I did this thing in the past that has effected my current belief in the now but still trying to move forward. Also fear of family telling me my visions are not based in reality so in essence my balance seems completely off kilter and I look to see how I create this in my life and work on letting that energy go and use my intuition to move forward.

Hi David, thanks for the great video.
Jumping on here a little late, but - my number one fear is people. Being around them, especially socially and in large groups. I also don't like crowds where there is a lot of noise and commotion. (the beach, parades, etc) I go to work because I have to and if I felt I could support myself doing something at home I would...
So, of course I would love to just have that fear be gone, to move through it and have a whole new world of social activity and business open to me!
I'm going to try your suggestion of just giving the fear space and saying hello. Thanks David!

Thank you David. I have had great fear of being famous and very successful. Yes I am breaking through that fear. Actually I have been rel-istening to all the tools on intuition. On the last session #3 I kept spacing out. But this week have been able to be aware. The slide technique has helped me. But also I want you to know David your story about the going golfing and your experience hit home this week. Here even after 35+ years of being an artist I was thinking of myself as a beginner. Today I realize that I am truly a great artist ( hard to say that for fear of people saying I am boasting) But I know within my heart and soul that my artwork is at an all time high. Thank you David for this week one gallery sold two large kimonos on the day that this awareness came to me. I am deeply grateful!
http://www.catherinefoster.com

Great video....I can relate to shifting or changing the 'feeling' of the fear by moving toward it and taking a closer look at it with an open mind...and seeing its just within me and not 'out there'....so when I then refocus on what I'm doing 'out there', and let go of my 'imagined fear' I can move forward with maybe some vulnerability at first that then shifts to excitement and ease.
Now I feel stuck and lethargic (only energy) with not knowing what direction to take from this point in my life. As a Mum I have plenty to do and feel being a Wife and Mother is a major part of my life but also feel something is missing. I don't feel complete. I have asked the question and stayed open to what presents itself. (maybe its not the right time)...at the same time have this 'fear' of not ever finding my passions....so not sure how to step forward without a known direction..... With Love and appreciation, Di

I've read all of your great posts. Thanks for sharing your experiences and authenticity around this. Take the actions of your life that are boldly authentic.

With love,
David

Just got to view this video. As always timing is everything! well actually. . . everthing is energy!!

And the Energy was right there at the time when I needed a boost!!

Refocus, reground and reconnect!

Hugs to you both! Thanks a milliion!!!
Dorothy

Thank you! What an awesome way to look at fear. There are many places that I now see where fear has kept me small in some areas of my life. I am learning to be kind to myself and not jump to the knee-jerk reaction of beating myself up at lost opportunities. I see that these were steps I had to make in my journey, and now I have new tools to change that.

I'm working through fear with Dual Sport Motorcycling. Went to an event for women's off-road riding in Buena Vista last weekend. I felt fine riding to BV (on 285) and riding off-road (for the most part!) but was terrified on Route 285 on the way home. Talking to myself wasn't working and it wasn't until I got off of 285 and into Morrison that I started to recover. I don't like being fearful but haven't been successful in letting it "move through". Any hints would be greatly appreciated! And yes I do recognize the constricting around it description!!

Hi Guys,

Yep, having lots of fear atm. And doing my best to allow it room to be and just feeling like 'of course I'm afraid, I'm doing something Big that I've never done before'. For me fear is around finances. Following our hearts we've committed to a really big mortgage for our dream home. We can see how we can afford to make this work. Yet the how is dependent on things outside of our control so we're very much exposed and having to live in faith that the Universe is going to meet us half way. Scary. I keep reminding myself, i came here for an adventure, for fun, for a ride worthy of calling my life. So of course scary will be part of the mix. Love yas, Soli xxxxx

Thank you David and Kristin. I still have some fear around business and knowing what steps to take next to move my business along. I have published a children's book, but I now want to write a book for adults and I feel some fear around being good enough to do that. I appreciate the reminder to be with it instead of trying to quickly get rid of it or ignore it.

Thank you David and Kristen, Thank you for showing us how to move this energy of fear. I fear my interviews for jobs. I have never had good experiences with them. I am working to remember the few good interviews for teaching I have had. I also have a fear of my elderly parents who are not positive or encouraging. Also, I think I fear the stress put on people in most jobs these days. I think I fear for my health. I need to turn this thinking around to see things so differently. Thank you for the realization fear is only energy that can be moved. I'd like to move it out somehow.

David,
Thank you for this wonderful video about fear. It came at a much needed time. Right now my world is upside down and frankly has doubled or even tripled my fears.
Funny, a few weeks ago a friend commented, "you are always out going and doing and I would be scared to do what you do." But it is just something I do, I push myself to go to events.
Yet I do not have close friends because I am afraid I will be a burden. And 2 weeks ago when my grandmother died, I went through the grieving process alone, because my mom had to be there with her father. I want to be a friend, I want to grow and be a stronger person and friend.
The other fear is self-promotion, perhaps related to the first of being pushy. I am a writer and the only way for my name to grow is by self-promotion, to push my name and brand in front of others until word of mouth grows.
Yet how do you draw a line between being a friend and business promoter to being over the top. This I do not know. But perhaps like going to the events, I just need to push myself forward and grow.
Thank you for the wonderful video and allowing me to think out loud the rambling thoughts of a writer.
~ MJ Schrader

Timely points David. Thank you!

great video - i am going to sit down and analyze some of the fear in the back of my head about getting pounded by a big wave, fear of a shark attack, and/or drowning while surfing

i know some of these fears are affecting all parts of my life in a whole as you mentioned about "falling flat on your face"...hmmm --- nice

thanks

Hi David,
Thanks once again for sharing your knowledge to conquer our blocks we hold inside and when these blocks are no longer holding us back, we can finally experience what we are meant to create, receive, and so much more.
I've been living in a state of "Panic" since 1996 and have been medicaded for it since then as I became totally paralyzed in fear that seemed to come out of nowhere. I now realize the panic attacks were triggerred by seperation anxiety which is my biggest fear in life - fearing abandonment, but also realize where it came from. The only problem is that I don't know how to release this horrible fear and trust that everything in my life is happening at the right time and place and putting my trust in that. Unfortunately, I am missing out on so many amazing things and people because of this and I KNOW that once I conquer this fear, my life will be so much fuller and I WILL have all those dreams that seem so ffar away right now.
Sincerely,
Melanie M

I'd love to be in the water right now. It's been way too long.
I'm another one with fibromyalgia, but trying to find a way to work with it. It's made life a lot tougher.
Yep...fear's a biggee. I can now admit it. I felt my chest tighten while I watched your video. It's tripped me up in my artwork, my shamanic training, past jobs, relationships...practically everything in my life. Louise Hay says fear is the foundation of fibromyalgia, so if I can melt the fear I have maybe I'll be healthier....and happier.

Thanks for this. I really appreciate it. It really helped me, it will help me be more courageous. :)

Yeppers...fear, learning curve, jump in and do it anyway.
Interesting how you said you didn't feel like doing it after the first try and fail time, but somehow you persevered and now you love it. I go through that too!

Your video made me think about where I am with fear. In writing my book I am either clear and exhilarated or semi conscious in fear....interesting, Thx, Roy

Appreciate the message ... arrived for my morning guidance. Enjoy your activity! Cheers, Steve

Hello David!

Thanks! You look like you are having fun.

The automatic reaction to fear is to restrict it and then it just seems to get bigger and take over. What you just described really makes me look at it differently and I am going to start practicing your tip when fear shows itself. I have been letting fear get the best of me for awhile now and it is time for me to take back my power and move through it rather than resist it.

Thanks again for all your tips and sharing!
Tammy

Thanks David!!! Just got an unexpected invitation to give a seminar and my first reaction was " oh no, I don't wanna do it" because of my fear of speaking in front of a group. But of course if I just don't give in to this fear but rather stay with it the answer is clear. Live throws a great opportunity at me, I'd be stupid to let my fear get the better of me. Thanks again, David. I needed this video exactly now!!!!

Thanks David!!! Just got an unexpected invitation to give a seminar and my first reaction was " oh no, I don't wanna do it" because of my fear of speaking in front of a group. But of course if I just don't give in to this fear but rather stay with it the answer is clear. Live throws a great opportunity at me, I'd be stupid to let my fear get the better of me. Thanks again, David. I needed this video exactly now!!!!

excellent lesson david. i agree if we close in (which is the tendency by the way) then we doom ourselves. but by being open,. recognising the fear and doing the thing anyway is what gives us conquest over fear. thanks you very much

That was great thanks. With all that is going on in my life and my families right now. Leaving where we have lived for 26 years and my husband leaving work, in hope of finding something different. I had 2 nights of waking up in real FEAR and I realized it wasn't the content of the dream, I felt the vibration of FEAR and tried very hard to use the Bubbles to clear it at the time. It took real focus on the Bubble and drawing out the fear. On the second night I had to actually get up, wake up and focus on the Bubbles. But wow, the very next day, I was able to enter the room I had all our packing in and actually deal with lots of it. I've come across the same resistance and I just stop Centre, bring the Gold in and clear anything I feel is there with the Bubbles. Thank you so much. Karen

Hi David,
I really admire your inner strength, committment and courage to pursue your dream to help other people, loving your work, and hopefully getting paid for it.
Although I have fibromyalgia, which can interfere with my desire to fulfill my dreams, thanks to people like you, I haven't given up.
Hope to be able to afford some of your programmes in the next year. Am currently struggling financially.
I will definitely be sharing your video with my facebook friends.

Best Wishes and Blessings,
Sandy

Great you two. I've always heard that fear was just energy, but that wasn't helpful. Thank you for taking it to the next step for me of stating that it pinches us off, and I feel that, but you need to let it flow through. I couldn't help but watch the waves move you back and forth while they just moved you. I like that Kristen brought up such a good example as your learning curve with the board. I hate being a beginner, but more than that I hate not experiencing something new. Who knows what's on the other side of that!

I am fearful about moving forward because the direction seems very fuzzy. I know where I want to go but there appears to be lots of obstacles. The other side sounds fantastic and I know it is there. I am willing to go with the process to break through the barriers...to trust and believe! Clarity would be a good friend at the moment. Monique

I am going to try feeling my fear next time instead of resisting it. Wish me luck!

I left college in my junior year back in 2007 and always had the desire to go back but I was terrified to. I was afraid that what ever college I applied to would reject me or I would some how not be good enough or I would not be able to afford it. I was always a great student, A's and B's, high GPA but for some reason I was so scared to take the chance and go back. Then one day I was thinking that if I didn't get in, I would be at exactly the same point I am now. What did I have to lose? Just $60 because of the applicatioon fee! But this was a $60 chance that I was willing to take. I decided not to let fear keep me from changing the rest of my life. So I applied and....... I was accepted! I will be a junior (again!) in September and I get excited butterfies in my stomach every time I think about going! I am not sure how I am going to go to school full time and work full time and pay for rent, car, etc. But I know that I will be ok. I know it! Especially now that I have David and Kristin's words of wisdom! Life just keeps getting better and better!! Woohooo class of 2012!!

David and Kristin: thank you so much for the fantastic too! Now I know I can break my Fear! It is more easy when you understand, what does it mean, Fear. Galina

So excited about fear, and the Other Side, I often know when I am moving forward because the fear kicks in and then I know I really have to do something. This was so true with my Radio Show and each step of the way I climbed a ladder of fear and celebrated each little victory, overcoming, speaking live, doing solo shows and then having guests on the show,
So empowering, the other side.

I believe I am afraid that I am not good enough to pursue my dream. Yet, on another level, I know I am good at what I do!

I want to live my life in an expansive sort of way, not live a constricted existence...I'm weary from the emotional cowering!

would this technique be effective for dimishing PTSD, too? I'm of the understanding that PTSD is essentially just memories that are trapped in short term memory as well as chronic body-memories...I wonder if I could get some relief from PTSD by trying to just let it be?

I've had ptsd and yes, just letting it be works.

How do I let the energy move? I know the restriction of tightening in my muscles, breathing, and even my mind. Are there steps to learning how to let the fear energy dissolve?

Thank you David! I have been so fearful about being a woman/person in business for myself. I have been so afraid that I am not or will not be good enough and that professionally speaking, I'm just not there. I do not have an office or office staff. I am a one woman show and I do not have much computer skill/ language or knowledge (and I have no desire to learn more in that department than I have to).

My fear has stopped me from actually creating or growing a business, my business though I know I can help women struggling with fertility to welcome a child or children into their lives. Now for me to step into this type of knowingness and action that has allowed my six beautiful children to materialize into my life may financial abundance flow into my life that I support and lavish abundance upon myself and my children by being of service.

Thank You,

Brenda

Hey Brenda, can I recommend you do one little step at a time, one little step a day and watch your fear disappear and the flow happening?

Perfect timing for this message. I'm leaving tomorrow for a week of whitewater kayaking school with my husband. I spent one weekend kayaking in the 80s and loved it, but didn't have anyone to do it with so I didn't pursue it. Then I went for a second weekend in 2000 with friends and had a blast again until the very end of the trip. Sitting in calm water talking with everyone right before we ended the day, one of the guides playfully tipped me over. I was completely unprepared, lost my paddle, my breath and my brain. Everything I had learned left my body. I couldn't roll without the paddle, and I even forgot how to get out of the boat, bending backwards instead of forwards to get out of the cockpit. I actually don't remember how I got out, whether they rescued me or I rescued myself. Unfortunately, it was the end of the trip, and I never got back on the horse. And it wasn't until last year when my husband wanted me to start kayaking with him that I realized how much fear I held in my body about that experience. I've resisted kayaking with him up until now--he finally bribed me with a week to a wonderful kayaking lodge with incredible food, fabulous instructors and a beautiful location. So I'm getting back on the horse. And I've been noticing my anxiety. And I've been working with it. A few months ago a therapist friend did an incredible session with me that's similar to EMDR, but more of a mind mapping technique that allowed me to focus my eyes in a particular spot and access the place in my brain where the trauma lived. Once we located it, I burst into tears and realized that the kayaking trauma had gotten linked to earlier childhood losses when my older sister and her friends would ditch me. They were linked because here I was kayaking with a group of friends who were supposed to support me and nobody was helping me as I struggled underwater. Of course, they assumed I would be fine and didn't need rescuing in 6 feet of calm water, but my childhood brain was feeling lost and abandoned once again. Before this, I hadn't realized that the real trauma in the kayaking trip was about abandonment--I thought it was about lack of air. Once my therapist friend helped me locate this trauma place in my brain, we could then replace it with a different message: one that said I was loved and supported and I would be taken care of, which is actually more true of my life than the abandonment message. So now when I've been feeling the anxiety surrounding this upcoming trip, I focus my eyes on the spot that triggered my tears initially, and instead I can take a deep, relaxing breath, clear the anxiety and remember that I am loved, supported and taken care of, and that that will be my experience on this upcoming week at kayaking school. And now I can add David's message to my arsenal as I gear up for my whitewater adventure. I'll let you know how it goes. Carla

Woohoooo! good for you! And, if we were good at everything from the get go...what would we need this LIFE for? Thanks for the inspiration!! For me...today, the fear is about someone else's action or lack of it. Well, I'm letting that go! Thanks for the reminder. Fear is energy...so I wonder how this transforming fear will manifest in my life today... Hmmmm.... xo$

Thank you. What perfect timing to be reminded of the tools I can use to move forward in my path. Blessings! Cheri

Great post as usual, D&K!

I've been afraid to really make my photo & coaching businesses grow, and the seed of it is fear of exposing myself to ridicule & rejection. It seems like I've had an unconscious need for approval, especially of skeptics, and I feel it comes from something like "if I can convince a skeptic of this stuff, then I'm doing it right (AND if I can't, I'm doomed)".

The past few weeks have brought a lot of progress, especially in my coaching practice, and it's a result of letting go of whatever I *thought* people would think about the invitations I'm sending out. I've replaced that with noticing what people are *actually saying* about my new life path when they reply. The response from many people has been very encouraging (to put it mildly), and *being willing to make this my experience (instead of my fears)* has been the most important shift I've done. Last week I got two new coaching clients, and there are a few interested prospects awaiting follow-up. Many more contacts await my invitation, which I'll keep sending during the next few weeks.

Regarding my photo business, lately I've been afraid of looking for work but not finding it, which has actually given me *exactly* that result. DUH! How can I find something if I'm not even leaving an opening in my consciousness to even recognizing the thing ?!? This, again, is a clear case of fear of failure & rejection that, when examined thoroughly and objectively, disappears and leaves a clean page on which to write a new story. I'll keep looking for prospects & collaborators very soon :)

Thank you for the post and for asking us to respond. Pausing to think about this in order to write it really helped :) Writing is an incredibly effective way to communicate & inspire, and even if nobody ever reads this, it was great for the author to go through its motions so that it could be written and learned from. There's a lesson in everything.

Have fun at the lake!
Carli.

Thanks David..

Overcoming (actually facing) our fears is so critical to living a peaceful life in this age! Thank you for some great tips on being able to live above fear in our lives.. Be Blessed my Brother!

David
Bushcraft On Fire

I am afraid to put myself out in the public eye with my business. I am afraid of making a fool of myself, of over promoting myself, and of being exposed. I am opening up by surrounding myself with positive reinforcement towards my goals. I am tuning my focus to the joy and passion, and not seeing the fear so clearly anymore.

I have been working on this concept of "fear" and being able to work through it, with out resisting it for the past 35 years of my life. This was the perfect message for me today! Thanks for the reminder!

I am afraid of designing my entryway remodel myself because it might end up ugly. I am afraid of wasting money by having someone else design the remodel and still having it end up ugly. So, I'm resisting putting any time into the actual plan and I spend plenty of time worrying about it ending up ugly.

Oh and how would it be if it turned out beautiful?