How I Moved Through FEAR

Last Dec. I climbed Nohoch Mul, the 2nd tallest Mayan pyramid in the world.

43 meters tall and exactly 120 CRAZY STEEP stone steps.

I remember standing there, my heart pounding, palms sweating, legs trembling.

How could I NOT climb it? But…..

It was then I paused and noticed all the scary scenes that were playing like a MOVIE IN MY MIND...falling, slipping, tumbling to my death…they were just looping over and over….

Anxiety had set in fast.

So I sat down on the bottom step, closed my eyes and began some slow deep breathing. I dropped into a meditation practice that’s become 2nd nature to me that I learned from Tara Brach called:

R.A.I.N. of Mindful Self Compassion

R – “Recognize” I consciously acknowledged being in the grip of FEAR” “Hello Fear” I see and feel you.

A  – “Allow” – I let the Fear just be there – I didn’t criticize or diminish what was happening. “It’s ok” I accepted the reality of my experience in that moment.

I –  “Investigate” – Coming from this deep place of awareness I got curious and SENSED where I was feeling the FEAR in my body – my chest and throat were tight, my jaw and neck felt clenched my belly felt cold and empty. And then I gently asked, “What am I thinking and believing right now in this moment?”, “What is real and true here?”

N –  “Nourish” By bringing a kind attention I was able to contact that frightened vulnerable place inside me.  I reassured myself that I was safe, capable, strong and above all, divinely protected.

My BODY relaxed and I felt grounded.

My MIND became calm.

Fear and anxiety morphed into excitement and anticipation.

At that moment, my SOUL, NOT MY MIND was back in the driver seat of my Life.

And I am so grateful, because reaching the top of that sacred place touched me so deeply – I’ll never forget it.

So the NEXT TIME YOUR ARE FRIGHTENED, remember:

YOU have a CHOICE.

Staying stuck in Fear and worry only creates a toxic inner chaos that taxes your health and well being.  

YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN CALM.

BREATH and STILLNESS are your healing superpowers;  

YOU, the SOUL is in charge.

And ALL IS WELL.