Journal Power: Gaining the Upper Hand Over Fear Forever

I think it’s perfectly outrageous how powerful fear is in shaping our lives. When you look closely, so much of our time and so many of our actions are motivated merely by fear.

• The alarm goes off. Oh no, I’m afraid I might be late to work.
• I cut myself shaving. Oh no, I might be unattractive to that cute brunette at the office.
• I wait for the commuter train. Oh no, did I miss it?
• There’s a message from my boss on my desk. Oh no, what did I do now?
• What? It’s only 10am? Oh no, this day is going to drag on forever!

Know what I mean?

You go on vacation and it’s

• Will I miss my connection?
• Is that motel clerk an axe murderer?
• I look hideous in this bathing suit!
• Oh no, I’m starting to feel bored.
• This holiday is going to be over before I start enjoying it!

Seriously, we let fear dominate. It manifests in so many different ways, though we don’t always recognize how pervasive it is.

Now, self-preservation is basic. We have to feed our hunger, protect ourselves from cold. But I’m not sure we have to ground such a large percent of our awareness and actions in defenses against perceived threats.

We’re entitled to a good measure of sheer enjoyment of life. So why do we submit so readily and often to imaginary scary monsters?

Guess we need to journal about it.

• Write a list of the ways you were motivated by fear today. Stop after five minutes or so. No use going on and on.
• Write a list of motivators that are not fear. Like curiosity, love, compassion, thirst.
• Select one instance of fear in your day and examine it closely. Fear of being late to work, for instance. Write a detailed scenario of the result, should you actually be late to work. Make it as threatening, horrendous, silly, or overblown as you wish. If words fail you, let your pen make a picture or doodle.
• Write about alternatives to fear.
  
  • If you had no worries about being unattractive, how would you approach that cute brunette?
  • If there’s a message from your boss, what good news might it contain?
  • If the motel clerk looks shady, what questions might you ask to get him to be more friendly?

The default, for most of us, is the panic button. We jump to fearful conclusions all too readily. It’s a natural self-protective instinct, I’m sure. But it limits joy.

Let’s be brave and fight back! Journal your fears and get a grip on them.

Yes, you still have to get to work on time. With your journaling, you can achieve that with less stress because you engineer how to do it without fear.

You get to work on time because you want to, not because of anything that you’re afraid of!

Major difference, darling. Use your journal to get on top, to gain the upper hand, to show ‘em who’s boss.

Use the power in your journal.

If you want to learn how journaling can help you tackle life's challenges and overcome your fears, please download the free eBook, The Journaling Guide to Manage The Stress and Strains of Life.  

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