Fear is excitement without the breath (Fritz Perls)
Many of us don’t know that fear and excitement are actually the same physiological experiences in the body. That is, the same set of neurochemicals are released whether we feel fear or excitement.
Unforutnately, there is something that ties both fear and excitement together: anticipation.
So when our brains detect something that requires our attention, we need to get ready and anticipate what’s coming up. Way back in the day, our ancestors required their brains to detect any small threat – it was essential to their survival. This means that their (and subsequently, our) brains and bodies became wired to perceive any threat in the environment to prepare our bodies for: fight, flight, or freeze. Same thing goes for when we’re excited for something, like giving a speech, or getting married!
What does this mean for us? It means that we can change the way we feel on a moment to moment basis by simply acknowledging this truth and moving beyond.
All you have to do to change fear into excitement is: physically move it up. Fear lives in the body (typically) approximately 2-5 inches lower than excitement.
Here’s how:
- Tap into the feeling (fear or anxiety).
- Sit with it – acknowledge it but don’t label it.
- Then imagine shifting that sensation up two to three inches higher.
- Notice what that does to how it makes you actually feel.
Live with intention. Lead with inspiration.