If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.
--Saint Thomas
Getting clear on what you're scared of can instantly diffuse ticking anxiety bombs and release your creative power.
Why are you afraid? This is where you get it out of your system: bankruptcy, unfulfilled potential, trashing your reputation, losing it all. And then (because we just can't stop there), you're going to apply some simple analysis to it. You may have nothing to fear after all.
This is an incredibly simple and powerful exercise that I learned from the Diamond Approach, a self-realization philosophy developed by A. H. Almaas (a great introduction to his massive body of work is his book The Unfolding Now). I respectfully refer to this as the "Because Why Inquiry." Watch the video and we'll get into it.
Today's Worksheet: Deconstructing Fear
Getting clear on what you're scare of can instantly diffuse ticking anxiety bombs. This is where you get it out of your system: bankruptcy, unfulfilled potential, trashing your reputation, ending up a spinster, losing it all, a supposedly fatal diagnosis. And then (because we just can't stop there), you're going to apply some simple analysis to it. You may have nothing to fear at all.
This is an incredibly simple and powerful exercise that I learned from the Diamond Approach, a self-realization philosophy developed by A.H. Almaas (a great introduction to his massive body of work is his book The Unfolding Now). I respectfully refer to this as the Because Why Inquiry.
Think of something you're afraid of. Got it in your head? Now ask yourself "Why am I afraid of ____?" Answer it. Ask again. Because why? ANswer again -- you can give the same answer or a different one, but eventually you'll need to get unstuck and discover another reply for yourself. Keep repeating the Because why? question and keep answering it. It's amazing what the basic repetition can dig up as you drill down closer to the source of your fear.
What are you afraid of? "I'm afraid of getting fired."
Why are you afraid of getting fired? "Because the money is good."
Why are you afraid of getting fired? "Because competition in my industry is tough."
Why are you afraid of getting fired? "Because I'd be humiliated."
Why are you afraid of getting fired? "Because I'd have to tell my father."
Why are you afraid of getting fired? "Because my dad would have one more reason to think I'm never going to amount to anything."
Why are you afraid of getting fired? "Because I'll never get the love I want from my father."
Eureka.
This is a powerful exercise to do with another person that you trust. As they keep repeating the Because why? question to you, you may have to resist the urge to scream at them, "Stop asking me that!" Avoid brutality. That's not part of the exercise. Ride through the annoyance and your own emotions and you'll crack through some layers to the light of insight.
How do you feel when you see the reasons behind your fears?
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