Name it to Tame it
We can all be crippled by fear and doubt at some stage of our lives. It often occurs when something happens and we feel we have no control over it. This can often leave us feeling helpless, disempowered and stuck, so what to do!!
1. Breathe
Breathe and come back to the felt experience of your body. Take four slow deep breaths and feel your feet on the ground. Move your body- stretch or go for a walk and bring your awareness back to the present moment. Notice what is around you; notice the chair you are sitting on, the colour of the walls- become present. This calms the body and helps you see the situation without the drama. It truly brings simplicity and clarity.
2. Seek clarity
When we feel out of control or uptight about a situation we are often operating from a survival instinct- by looking for the negative in any situation and bringing all of our history with us. This ends up clouding the situation- so be present and really check it out. Break the situation down and even ask questions of others to help you become clear and rule unnecessary thoughts out.
3. Know the facts
Gathering real facts about the situation and your role within it is an important step in overcoming fear and doubt. Get clear on whether you have any power to change the situation or not. Focus on strategies and solutions- what needs to change, what am I afraid of, what is working, what do I need to let go of and make sure you check all these things. Essentially- get strategic and simplify.
4. Name it to tame it
Name the feeling to tame the feeling. Ask for support and acknowledge how you are feeling. This is vital as when we are aware of how we are feeling and the affect a situation is having on us, we are then able to act to change it. For many of us we don’t become aware of how we feel, we just understand that we are stressed and uptight but we never know why; we just soldier on.
This then compounds the problems as we start to ignore, suppress and run away from our feelings and eventually, the problems start taking over. This may lead to panic attacks or overreactions to certains scenarios. We lose touch with ourselves, our needs and our clarity.
So, start to get curious about how you’re feeling. These feelings act as a compass guiding you through life- feelings provide information. Be gentle and kind with yourself and commit to getting to know who you are through being present and checking out how you feel.
About the author:
Jane Faulkner is the founder of Equine Assisted Therapy Australia, a registered training organisation that integrates counselling, equine assisted therapy, art therapy, yoga and horsemanship. With over 20 years of experience working with people across all industries, Jane supports people through difficult life transitions and issues.
Jane will be speaking at the Power of People Conference at The Capital, Brisbane, Saturday, 13 May 2017 presenting the workshop,‘Name it to Tame it’. Click here to find out more and secure your spot.
