Fear manifests itself in many forms — from Depression to Anxiety, and even Anger. We often feel fear about things that haven't happened yet. Our minds work overtime, thinking about the worst-case scenario that may never happen. This allows fear to build.
We often get anxiety over things that have occurred in the past. The past is done; it can't be changed. Allowing an event that happened last week, last year, or even yesterday to make you anxious is giving it permission to continue hurting you today.
If someone hurts your feelings in the heat of the moment, they are probably going to forget what they have said quite rapidly. However, having your mind drag up those hurtful words over and over allows that person to hurt you over and over.
Why do it? What can be done to stop it?
Either you can see a therapist like me, who can talk to your subconscious to persuade it to stop feeling negatively about a situation — or you can practice living in the moment.
Living in the Now
When practising living in the Now, the past and the future struggle to affect you. Concentrate on what is going on in this very moment. If your mind is trying to drag up some unpleasant fear, and you are sitting down, draw your attention to how the seat feels beneath you.
- If there are sounds around, focus your hearing on them and single out each one.
- If there is a particular smell in the air, breathe it in and concentrate on it.
- If someone is talking or music is playing, really listen to the words or the sounds — put all your attention on it.
- Notice how the seat feels beneath you; the weight of your body, the texture, the temperature.
That is what living in the moment means. And when you practise this, fear finds it very hard to get through. Living in the Now is a form of meditative practice and is healthy for the mind and body.
Further Reading
Eckhart Tolle has a very well-known book called The Power of Now, which uses the concept of living in the moment. I would highly recommend it: read an excerpt from The Power of Now.
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