Exploring Fear

As we create our lives more honestly we are often called to round ourselves out in ways that feel unfamiliar. Sometimes disowned selves come up for acceptance and if they have been judged harshly by ourselves or others in the past there will be fear associated with their assertion into our consciousness. I for example have a strongly developed feminine side that is soft, easy and natural.

Fear seems to intensify with our resistance of it. Sometimes I will just sit quietly with it and let it seethe and pulse through my body. Feeling into the tone and texture of fear diffuses the resistance and allow fear to form into a message or a question. Fear implies that there is something that a part of me is not quite ready for. Usually a more limited part of myself is trying to keep me safe. 

An exercise to explore your fears and believed limitations in your art journal is as follows:

1.)What am I afraid of?

2.)What is my fear protecting me from?

3.)What would happen if I were not afraid of that?

When you are in a fear state it is often helpful to collage your fear. It is almost like creating a visual nightmare. I was in a state of fear when I created the above collage but I felt very satisfied and my fear was diffused after the collage was finished. Be gentle with yourself. If you are feeling overwhelmed step back and do not push through your fears too intensely. Let yourself unfold in a relaxed manner. It is ok to stop and take a rest.

Another good way of dealing with fear is to watch and record your dreams. This will help you understand the interaction of the full cast of characters that live below in your unconscious mind. It may help you identify which part of you is begging to be integrated and accepted into your conscious life. Once you identify which part of you is begging for acceptance you can soothe your everyday mind that is feeling fearful by repeating to that unaccepted part, "I love you."

The part that begs for acceptance may not feel very desirable or attractive to your conscious mind hence it's relagation to the disowned dungeon of your unconscious. It is likely a very young and vulnerable part that needs to be accepted into your everyday life. Whenever I feel needy for example, in my fear, I get to work on further disowning my need by working harder and doing more. The exact opposite is needed. If I take the time to express and reclaim this needy part I can find the courage to ask others for help. This brings more wholeness and balance into my life.

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."

-Eleanor Roosevelt