Dealing with fear pt1

Exercise 1. To identify your own worst fear, answer the following questions for yourself: In what areas of my life do I feel the least sense of personal power? Who or what do I give that power to?

How can I take it back?

Exercise 2. To explore a particular situation that is arousing much anxiety in you, say to a partner, "With regard to _____, I'm afraid that____ ."

Say or write at least ten things.

Take a deep breath before each statement. When you feel as though you've said everything there is to say, take another deep breath and say, "And most of all I'm afraid that ____!"

This exercise is extremely useful in bringing clarity where there is a cloud of anxiety and confusion. The information brought forth is likely to surprise and even reassure you. Clarity as to what you have been fearing will enormously reduce the level of fear. Affirmations can be created to deal with the situation when you are clear about it. You may end up saying, "Oh, if that's what the problem is, I know I can handle that!"

Exercise 3. Some of my fears are tapes of feelings that somebody else once felt. Who?
What is the story of that person's fear?

What does it have to do with me--if anything?

Exercise 4. (a) My usual ways of reacting to fear are_______. Brave denial? Avoidance? Provocation? Attack?

(b) My most effective experiences or methods of dealing with fear in the past have been ____.

Ultimately, the answer to this question becomes feeling the fear and facing it, going through what has been avoided and discovering your strength through experience.

Exercise 5. Positive beliefs that have helped me through life; strengths I can draw upon. (List them)

For example: I always have what I need. There is always a solution. I'm a strong person.

Another way to do this exercise is to simply list your positive achievements of the past year, and do it every year. My positive achievements of this past year were:

Exercise 6. Integration. Assign a positive affirmation to your right (or dominant) hand and state it as you make a gesture with that hand. Let the left hand state the opposition, whatever comes to mind. If no opposition comes to mind, repeat the affirmation with the right hand. Continue until there is no opposition. You will be amazed how well this works.