The media is pumping fear throughout the veins and arteries of the world’s circulatory system. Each grave, breathless word and each scary image is moving you into the fight or flight mechanism.
This system is designed to keep you alive.
In a true emergency, like a tiger attacking you or your house on fire, your default fear reaction system immediately helps you to survive.
If it’s not an immediate threat, the same programmed system is activated.
Here’s where the problems begin:
Adrenaline and cortisol are released into your bloodstream.
Your body’s systems are diminished with the anticipation of fighting or running. This includes Immune, Digestive, Endocrine and Reproductive functions.
Your thinking becomes muddled as the higher executive functions of the brain are bypassed.
Hyper-vigilance makes it more difficult to sleep.
Cortisol causes you to retain body fat. Worry may cause you to overeat.
You begin to alter your genetic expression favoring “bad” genes over “good”.
The most pernicious part of fear is that most of what we experience isn’t happening in the present moment. Fear that isn’t a present and direct threat is a mental projection of what may happen.
What’s the answer?
Take time to disconnect from this fear before it overwhelms your psyche.
Scary, negative thoughts are leading your body into the stress response. Different, positive thoughts will lead you home again.
How do I do this?
The secret is we can change our own thoughts. We can actually bring ourselves back to the present moment. This is the place where all is well:
Some place their present moment awareness on their breathing.
Others take action on anything productive.
Still others feel the ground solid beneath their feet while connecting their senses with nature.
I have free guided relaxation tracks. Like this recent one on letting go of fear - LINK
No matter how often the media and your mind attempt to drag you into a scary future, you have the ability to gently bring yourself back to the present moment. As you do this and your thoughts change, your body responds in kind with focus, clarity and calm.
“Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.” Thich Nhat Hanh
Think of your thoughts like electricity. The power itself is benign. How the power is channeled is what determines the outcome.
Unlike so many disasters and personal tragedies, we are truly all in this together.
With love and best wishes to you and to your loved ones,
Peter