Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Scaredy Cat

Fear is never about the present moment.
LIVING YOUR YOGA: When one is in a truly life-threatening situation, there is often a sense of calmness more than anything. Today when you feel afraid, notice if you are truly present, and if not, then take a breath and drop down into your belly and in to this moment.

I have to admit, this one didn't do much for me today. I was going around to local businesses introducing myself and letting people know my studio is opening Friday and I was terrified. Yep, that's right. Terrified in bold. I was so far out of my comfort zone there were solar systems separating me from my happy place. I can't pin down exactly what I was nervous about, but it was very real and didn't go away when I brought my focus to my belly and to the moment.

However! I am still a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and I think there is a reason why today's exercise came when it did and why I had trouble with it. Perhaps I was simply too distracted by the task at hand to truly focus on the moment and separate from my emotions? I don't know. But, I have more places to visit tomorrow and I'm going to try it again! Hopefully I have better luck then!
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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 23, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    As far as I can figure out there are two types of fear. There is fear and fearfulness.

    Fear is experienced when we are in a real or imagined situation of immediate danger. It happens in the now, a fight or flight moment. You are never more alive than when responding instinctively to fear. Miracles happen. You live or you die. All in the present moment.

    Then there is fearfulness. Fearfulness is the niggling worry that you may get into a situation of fear. It grinds you down and keeps you from experiencing a full life.

    The funny thing is that every time you survive a situation of real or imagined fear, you know yourself as someone who can be trusted to handle fear. You gain confidence every time.

    The less you experience real or imagined situations of fear, the more fearful you become in life.

    So this is your choice, confront anxiety and fearfulness by putting yourself through the test of regular fear. Or live a small safe and fearful life and probably die sooner anyway.

    I'm like you, I experience fear every time I talk to someone from the heart. And my life is so much better for the experience.

    Hey, good luck with your yoga studio. I know you will be awesome.

    Mike – From New Zealand

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  2. Yoga SadhakaDecember 29, 2011 at 12:49 PM

    Thank you, Mike. An elegant description of the intricacies of an emotion often taken for granted.

    All the best. -Stephanie

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