being friendly with fear

[focusedbody]

This past week I got really close to being there for my kids and their mom.

She and I share difficulties with handling anxiety, so when we come through it, the feeling is kind of unreal but good.

There are moments when I seem to be taking care of lots of things and want to share more of myself with her. Unfortunately when it comes down to being fully present, I find myself avoiding that last step. It may be that I’m afraid of telling her what seems to be the source of my confusion. It may be that I’m testing to see if she will allow me to explore it with her or in her presence. Either way, I’m trying to anticipate what will likely happen again. That when desire seeks to be known, a shift occurs and I feel blind to possibility.

Perhaps the problem is that fear lies next to the heart, and though it wants to be chased away it also wants to speak.

Any thoughts about being friendly with fear are welcome.

FB

 

[Sterling]

I like your strength , depth - very inspiring.
Children need strength and understanding in an emotion such
as fear.
You articulating by describing it in this way is enough
for me to dig deeper by feeling the fear; whatever
the fear .
Thanks focusedbody. (your username is appropriate!)

James

 

[focusedbody]

Thanks, James.

My hope is that by becoming more friendly with fear the overall stress will lessen.

Without doing so, the underlying anxiety would probably continue to deplete me.

As a parent, I can kind of tell when my children's world is filled with stress. They are a kind of mirror that lets me know where I'm coming from with my own strength and understanding.

When I think about what has gotten stuck on the way to getting here, it is very painful. But even that is more acceptable to me than being filled with fear and acting on it.

Peace and health,

FB