What frightens you? Do you fear a violent death, natural disasters, or something more familiar like spiders?
It's healthy to have fears. Some fears help us remain safe and prevent us from engaging in activities with dire consequences.
We also hold fears that are detrimental to our livelihoods. We often fear failure and success. It sounds ridiculous, but it's a reality for many of us.
A person like P. Diddy, arrested on charges of racketeering and human trafficking, has very few fears. They believe their money and status will protect them. The challenge for the rest of us is to discern between productive and limiting fears.
How can we recognize the differences? We must train ourselves to become more self-aware. Consistent reflective practices such as writing, meditating, and exercising can help.
"Do one thing every day that scares you," said Eleanor Roosevelt.
"Knowing what must be done does away with fear," added Rosa Parks.
Whether you listen to Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, or anything else I share in this post, the point is that you must embrace fear as an element of life. We're not suggesting to ignore fears. It's about acknowledging their existence and proceeding with awareness.
This week, I put myself through the gamut to get control of my mind. Before sunrise on Tuesday and Thursday, I ran the "Fear/Less 5k Run" with the Nike Running Coach App. I listened to the guidance from the app's coach and extended each of my runs beyond the 5k mark to process recent changes.
My family will likely leave Antigua in December. If everything goes as planned, my contract with the university will end, and we will move to our next destination.
Will we return to the States or land in another country? I will share more details in the coming weeks.
Fear surrounds the upcoming chapter for my family, but it will not write the next pages. Like you, we can't let fear dictate our decisions. We must assess the dangers and possibilities to increase our chances of survival.
On most of my runs this week, multiple scenarios concerning the next phase went through my mind, passed down to my feet, and hit the pavement. I crushed each negative outcome and optimized optimism with each step. My talents, skills, abilities, and God's Will will help us choose from multiple options before the end of the year.
So far in 2024, I have run 1,438 miles. In 2023, I ran 2,001 miles.
Before you ask, let me answer your question. Why do I run so much?
It's simple. I enjoy running, and it is linked to a long-term goal of participating in the Boston Marathon. On a deeper level, running helps me find solutions to challenges.
Sometimes, we should give thanks for fear. What and Why? Because they can serve as massive sources of motivation to stay fit and achieve other worthy goals.
The fear of becoming someone with bipolar challenges fuels many of my disciplined habits. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition with symptoms of extreme depression followed by elation. It's in the genetic code of my family.
Daily, I write, read, and exercise as preventative measures to combat fears of cognitive decline.
I prioritize rest and mindful activities like yoga and meditation to keep my mind and body strong. These activities also produce spiritual benefits and complement prayer and attending organized religious services.
Mindful practices help you see the light during dark times. They allow you to manage fears and support the assessment of priorities.
If you're experiencing fear, know that you are not alone.
A student visited me this week and shared his concerns about an upcoming speaking engagement. After encouraging him, I said fears indicate excitement and nervousness. We can choose the emotion to listen to during uncomfortable moments.
Last week on this blog, I suggested exercising, writing, starting a mindful practice, or a combination to gain a handle on stressful situations. I'm reinforcing that advice this week. These activities have consistently helped me find balance in unsteady environments.
I hope you will have similar results.
You can't see the fear I had before my last academic conference presentation, but it was there. I was apprehensive about whether the abstract concept of using music and poetry as mediums to teach learning strategies might get lost.
After a few short inhales and exhales through my nose, I calmed down and delivered a memorable presentation. Check out the video below.
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