Tag Archive for self motivation

12 Signs You Lack Clarity In Your Life

January 15, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

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12 Signs You Lack Clarity In Your Life

Clarity is essential for achieving your goals and living a fulfilling life. What happens when you lack clarity?

Well, you may experience frustration, indecision, lack of motivation, and other negative emotions. GenuLines reminds you that there are ways to overcome obstacles to gain clarity in life.

glasses for clarity

Here are 12 signs you lack clarity in your life:

 

1.    Frustration –

One of the signs that you’re lacking clarity is feeling frustrated. You may feel like you’re working hard, but you’re not making progress, or you’re unsure what to do next.

To overcome frustration, take a step back and check your situation. Ask yourself if you’re clear about your goals and what steps to take to achieve them.

If not, take some time to clarify your goals and create a plan of action.

2.    Indecision –

It may seem that you’re unable to choose between many options, or you’re not sure what direction to take. So, gather more information and weigh the pros and cons of each option.

Consider what’s most important and which option aligns with your values and goals.

3.    Not Knowing Where to Begin –

If you’re unsure where to begin, it could be a sign that you lack clarity. This is overwhelming, but breaking things down into smaller steps is key.

Start by identifying the first step you must take, then focus on that one task. Once you complete it, move on to the next step.

4.    Not Trusting Your Decisions –

When you lack clarity, you may second-guess your decisions. This can lead to a lack of trust in yourself and your abilities.

To overcome this, take the time to reflect on your values and goals. Make decisions that align with these, and trust that you’re making the right choices.

5.    Being Unproductive or Procrastinating –

Feeling that you’re unproductive or procrastinating could mean you lack clarity. Identifying and addressing the root cause of your procrastination is essential.

Is it because you don’t know where to begin or are unsure what steps to take next? Once you identify the cause, take steps to overcome it.

6.    Inconsistent Effort –

Inconsistent effort to achieve your goals can be a sign that you lack clarity. This could be due to not having a clear plan or not being clear about your goals.

To overcome this, create a plan with specific, measurable goals and action steps. Track your progress and adjust as needed.

7.    Lack of Motivation –

When you lack clarity, you may feel unmotivated and uninspired. To overcome this, take some time to reflect on your values and goals.

Reconnect with your why and remind yourself of the bigger picture. Break down everything into smaller, manageable steps, and celebrate your progress.

8.    Overwhelm and Burnout –

Feeling overwhelmed and burned out can be a signal, too. It’s essential to discover the cause of this overwhelm and take steps to address it.

This could be delegating tasks or saying no to commitments that don’t align with your goals. It can also mean taking time for self-care.

9.    Feeling Stuck –

If you’re feeling stuck, it could show that you lack clarity. Take some time to reflect on what’s holding you back.

Is it a lack of knowledge or resources, or are you unsure what steps to take? Once you identify the root cause, take steps to overcome it.

10. Low energy –

Identifying and addressing the root cause of your low energy is vital. This could include getting more rest, eating a healthier diet, or reducing stress.

These can make positive impacts on your mental clarity and focus.

11. Decreased Focus and Concentration –

When you lack clarity, you may struggle to focus and concentrate on tasks. This could be due to feeling overwhelmed or not knowing where to begin.

To overcome this, break tasks into smaller, manageable steps, focusing on one thing at a time. Create a distraction-free environment and give yourself regular breaks to recharge.

12. Negative Self-Talk –

If you don’t know where you’re going, it’s hard to stay positive. To overcome this, practice positive self-talk and affirmations.

Focus on your strengths and achievements.

And make sure to remind yourself that you’re capable of achieving your goals.

JohnK 1-15-2024

chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about clarityOverheard: “Children are remarkable for their intelligence and ardor, for their curiosity, their intolerance of shams, the clarity and ruthlessness of their vision”

~Aldous Huxley

Article image by engin akyurt on Unsplash

disclaimer for clarity

How to Find And Begin Your One Goal

January 1, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

banner to help your goal

If you break New Year resolutions try making goals instead. In fact, aim for one goal.

There’s a way to do this and GenuLines has a plan that can help you.

How to Find And Begin Your One Goal

When you sleep, you dream. Even if you don’t remember those dreams when you wake up, you do still have them.

The thing about dreams is that we have them one at a time. They don’t overlap.

They’re okay with waiting in line and taking their turn.

Think about making your goals  like your dreams—one at a time. Here are a few ideas from GenuLines on how you can decide on your next goal.

hockey goal

1.                 Find the ONE goal
It might be that the reason people make vague resolutions instead of New Year’s Goals is that a goal is a big thing. And it can be overwhelming.

But losing the big picture means losing the prize.

Ask yourself these questions:
·        Why are you doing what you’re doing? The why provides motivation even when you’re discouraged.

Knowing the why will also help clarify your goal.

·        Next year, what achievement from this year will have the most significant impact on your life. Would it get you closest to achieving your goals?

If you’re looking to become healthier, this might be becoming a non-smoker. If you’re looking to change careers, it might be going back to school for more training.

Attention Please

·        What takes your full attention while you’re doing it? Where does your passion lie?

Are you consumed by cars? Does being a mechanic sound like something to look into?

·        What do you believe is worth doing that other people might not? That’s a question designed to give insight into your personality.

In the 1960s Rosey Grier played pro football for the New York Giants and later for the LA Rams.

He was 6’5” and 300 pounds.

He also spent off field time knitting. It was his passion.

What makes you so passionate that you don’t mind standing alone to do it? What drives you or from what do you take comfort?

How can that be a part of the goal? Or can it become the goal?

2.                 Translate your goal into a number

Numbers are easier to remember. What number?

For example,  your goal is to become an ex-smoker. If you smoke a pack per day at $5 per pack, that’s 5 X 365 or $1,825 spent each year on cigarettes.

That’s a good number

Call it $2,000 by the time you factor in all those trips to the gas station for cigarettes. Does that number make the goal real?

3.                  Keep your eyes on the prize

Get out a sheet of paper. Write down  that $2,000 number in big, bold, colorful numbers.

Use crayon if you like.

Post that number where you can see it. Often.

Learn to rank your goals. By doing this you’ll find it easier to pick the one that means the most to you right now.

Then put your laser like focus on that particular goal until you get to where you want to go.

JohnK 1-1-2024
chiforyourself.com

 

stick man hears about a goalOverheard: “Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer to your goal.”

~ Elbert Hubbard
 

 

Article image by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/metal-bar-with-net-on-the-ice-surface-6847387/

 

disclaimer for your goal

What is Self-Reliance?

July 3, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

You might see self-reliance as your natural state of being. But is it really?

Use this GenuLines check list to change your state if necessary.

What is Self-Reliance?

The idea of self-reliance is a broad one and one that covers many different concepts. Everyone has a different idea of what makes up self-reliance.

And there are many different types of self-reliance for different situations.

You can be self-reliant in that you don’t need the accolades of other people. You can be self-reliant in that you are able to do things on your own without becoming lonely or bored.

And you can be self-reliant in as much as you’re able to solve problems without help.
Self-reliance is none of these things and all these things.

And as such, none of us are self-reliant though most of us strive to be more-so in various areas of life.

sign says self-reliance

Read on and we’ll look at some of the different ways in which you can be self-reliant and some of the forms it takes.

Independence

Independence is being able to do things on your own. You don’t need the encouragement or the company of others.

This is a valuable trait. Your options aren’t limited by what other people are willing to do with you.

Many people struggle with independence. They think they need to be with friends or to spend all their time with a partner.

If you do this too much you can end up losing your own identity.

Resourcefulness

This is a form of self-reliance in as much as it helps you to cope in situations where the chips are down. This means being able to draw on a limited pool of options and still come up with a satisfactory solution.

Financial Independence

You don’t rely on an employer or anyone else for your income. Most of us are dependent to at least some degree.

But having savings and the ability to gain alternative income makes you much freer.

Self-Starting

Entrepreneurs are the perfect examples of self-starters. They motivate themselves to work without needing a boss.

You have the ability to forge your own path. You’re self-motivated and able to drive yourself to achieve what you want.

Capable

Being self-reliant means being able to fix your car engine or take out the trash. What’s more, it means not relying on someone else to do everything for you.

Thus you’re ready for almost any situation.

JohnK 7-3-2023
chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about self relianceOverheard: “Discontent is want of self-reliance: it is infirmity of will”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Article image Jon Tyson on Unsplash 

 

disclaimer for self-reliance

 

Happiness vs. Reality: The Hedonic Treadmill

June 27, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

Happiness is something we say we want. But can we have it all the time, and then again should we?

We’ll take this question apart as GenuLines looks at The Hedonic Treadmill.

Happiness vs. Reality: The Hedonic Treadmill

The ‘hedonic treadmill’ is a term that describes one aspect of the human condition. It paints a portrait of what many of us think is the ‘default state’ of happiness.
 
That default state meanwhile summed up as being ‘never quite happy’.
 
The hedonic treadmill is what keeps driving us forward. At the same time it keeps us from giving up.
 
It’s the fine line that most of us walk. Somewhere between being content and a bit uncomfortable.
word happy written out
Proponents of the idea say that we’ll never quite reach perfect happiness. But at the same time we’ll likely never be completely distraught either.

Evidence for the Hedonic Treadmill

So, does the hedonic treadmill actually exist? Right now your gut may be giving you an answer.
 
Do you feel as though you’re never quite content? If you won the lottery tomorrow, would you be completely happy then?
 
According to some studies we do indeed have a kind of ‘baseline’ happiness that we fall back on. One study tested happiness levels before and after life changing events.
 
Some participants would lose a limb and others would win the lottery. After two years both groups were at happiness levels much like their pre-event levels.
 
Let’s look at it from an evolutionary perspective. It’s easy to see why something like the hedonic treadmill might exist.
 
If we were to become completely miserable it might lead us to give up completely.
 
But if we were completely content we would have no motivation to keep striving to make life better. So in this case being in a state of ‘slight discontent’ can be effective.
 
Of course there are also criticisms of the theory. Not everyone is at the same level of happiness. And most of us will experience considerable fluctuation throughout our lives.
 
So the jury is still out on whether such a thing exists. And it’s easy to see that you might never actually want to be ‘100-per-cent happy’.
 
Whether you find that comforting or not is likely to depend very much on your point of view…
JohnK 6-26-2023
Stick figure hears about happinessOverheard: “Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way”
                            ~Sophocles
disclaimer for happiness
 

6 Tips To Make Fear Your Friend

January 16, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments
In life it seems that fear takes time outs yet never really leaves the game. But you can put fear on your team. 
 
This GenuLines game plan aims to do just that. 

6 Tips To Make Fear Your Friend

What makes you afraid? Is it losing someone close to you? A trip to the dentist?
 
Thunder and lightning?
 
hiding in fear
 
Whatever it is, keep in mind that fear is normal. It’s how our body warns us of dangerous situations and that we should be careful.
 
Yet, sometimes, our fears can become so great that they hold us back from living up to our full potential. We’re stressed and anxious over the smallest things.
 
Then again fear, in its positive form, can actually be good for us. It can inspire innovative ideas and motivate us to reach new heights.
 
Today GenuLines helps you make fear your friend. Follow the six tips below, and you’ll know how to turn what was once your foe into an ally.
 
Let’s get started.
 
1. Identify the Source
This could be the hardest step, though it’s very much worth it. But first, you need to come to terms with the source of your fear.
 
Being aware of the root cause will be difficult in the beginning, but it’ll make you stronger. You’ll no longer live in the shadow of that big, insurmountable fear.

2. Own It

You’ve come face-to-face with your fear. Now, it’s time to own it.
 
But before you do that, you have to actually admit that such-and-such scares you. There are several ways to do this.
 
First, you can either say it out loud. Do this with someone else in a comfortable setting.
 
You can also write it down in a journal or diary. The point is to get it out of your head and into a way to deal with it.
 
That’s when your fear loses its control over you.
 
It also feels better to get it off your chest and share it with the world. It might surprise you to know that many other people are as afraid as you are.

3. Think Rationally

Fear makes us panic, and panic makes us do stupid things. In fact, studies show that when we panic, our prefrontal cortex shuts down.
 
This is the region of our brain responsible for rational thinking.
 
Learn how to think rationally despite your worries and panic. Make fear your friend, and you’ll be able to go a lot farther in life.
 
4. Take Stock
People deal with fear, stress, and anxiety in different ways. Some people like challenges and the pressure they bring.
 
Others find it better to work at their own pace without any tight deadlines looming overhead.
 
Whichever way you prefer, the important thing is not to let fear get the better of you. For example, say you’re afraid to speak in public.
 
A colleague gets sick and asks you to take over their presentation. In this scenario, you have to pick whether you’ll let your fear overpower you or whether you’ll rise to the challenge.
 
The latter won’t be easy, but it’ll definitely be worth it in the long run. Tell yourself that others have held presentations before and have lived to tell about it.
 
So, what’s the big deal?
 
Remember, your mind tends to blow things out of proportion. So, find a way to deal with the stress and take stock.
 
It’s the only way you’ll be able to harness your fear and get the job done.

5. Find Support

No one ever failed by having a strong support system. Surround yourself with people who encourage you to do better.
 
These are the people who listen to you when you’re venting about your fears and anxiety.
 
There’s research to back the benefits of having a support system. This helps your coping skills. your self-esteem. and your well-being.
 
Moreover, a sound support system can lower stress, anxiety, and depression rates. 
 
6. Be Positive
Whenever you’re afraid, you’ll tend to focus on negative thoughts and emotions. But then, they fester in your mind and transform into this big, ugly thing that you can no longer control.
 
Why not try some positivity for a change? Remember, the mind is quite powerful; it only needs a small push in the right direction.
 
Stay in this mindset and expect things to fall into place.
 
JohnK 1-16-2023
Stick figure hears about fearOverheard: “Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out”
                                   ~Karl Augustus Menninger
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for fear
 

5 Steps To Boost Your Motivation Skills

September 12, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

Motivation is like a muscle, and it can get flabby over time. There are ways to deal with this. 

Let these GenuLines pointers be your strength coach and motivator. 

5 Steps To Boost Your Motivation Skills

Life can sometimes feel like nothing more than one struggle after another. This is especially true for anyone set on living a life of fulfillment and achievement.
 
Motivation is the one variable that allows you to push yourself when those around you give up.
 
suggestion to motivation
 
 
Today’s post is worth your attention. Even if you’ve never thought of yourself as driven , but would like to change that.
 
We’ll look at 5 helpful steps, in no particular order, to help boost your motivation and drive.

Know Your Why

When you first set out toward a goal or achievement, your “why” for doing so tends to be pretty clear. But as you work toward your goal, the foundation can become obscured.
 
No matter what you pursue there WILL be days on which you feel less motivated than others. Stay aware of why you started in the first place.
 
It will serve as your second (or third, or fourth) wind to get back up and keep pushing.

Know Your Direction

Extreme motivation has a tendency to cause you to put your head down and work like a maniac. At times this mindset is beneficial.
 
You want to maintain some sense of direction.
 
Big goals rarely consist of point A and point B. Instead, it’s important to have a general outline in mind of each step toward your destination.
 
So yes, keep your nose to the grindstone.
 
But look up every now and then. Adjust and begin the next phase of your blueprint.
 
This is the way to continue heading in the right direction!

Allow Small Victories

Make sure you enjoy small successes in pursuit of the finish line. No matter how much (or little) motivation you have towards your goal.
 
You won’t run out of gas before you get there. Take some time to reward yourself when you do one of the (often many) small steps along the way.
 
And remember: You Versus You, not You Versus Them
 
Keep in mind that your goals are YOUR goals. Letting other people’s pursuits dictate what you strive for is counter-productive.
 
You won’t find the motivation to achieve great things without personal conviction. Whatever it is you want, the only comparison to consider is to the person you were the day before.

Controlled Tunnel Vision

Consider this: whatever you’re after most likely involves only one facet of your life. Career, athletic, personal and other areas won’t stop while you go after it.
 
Balance is always key. Don’t let the rest of your life fall to the wayside while you pursue your dream!
 
JohnK 9-12-2022
                   
Stick figure hears about motivationOverheard: “Hold the vision, trust the process”
                               ~Unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for motivation
 

Stress and Motivation And How They Pressure Us

April 11, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

We’d all like to have grace under pressure. Easier said than done. 

Today GenuLines looks at pressure and what you can do to make it manageable.

 

Stress and Motivation And How They Pressure Us 

We’ve all been there. The deadline is looming and you’re not even out of the starting block.
 
We all recognize that feeling in the pit of our stomach as we settle down to work. But does it have to lead to stress?
 
And what does stress actually do to our motivation and focus?
 
pressure breaks pencil
 
 

Stressed Sick

Stress effects our bodies. It leads to higher blood pressure, anxiety, and a host of other symptoms.
 
It also makes it hard to concentrate on the task at hand.
 
Let’s say you’re feeling pressure at work, and it’s leading to stress. Your effectiveness could suffer.
 
You might be missing deadlines or making mistakes. You might even worry yourself sick and have to take a personal day.
 
Stress from psychological pressure can be the cause of all these problems.
 

Mounting Motivation

With good coping skills, pressure doesn’t have to lead to stress. It can affect motivation in a positive way, too.
 
When you’re feeling stressed, try practicing positive thinking or self-distraction. These are some of the many techniques that can beat stress and help your focus.
 
Like other skills, motivation under pressure takes practice. Learning to cope is crucial.
 
Positive coping mechanisms can help you melt away your stress. The stress is then replaced by a host of positive benefits of working under stress.
 

Performing Under Fire

When you master your stress levels and learn to perform under pressure you might notice a few things. You’ll keep a cooler head in difficult situations.
 
Your thinking is clear. Those around you may be struggling with the thought of some terrible outcome.
 
You’ll notice that your leadership skills improve, and that people turn to you in a crisis.
 
Up your game
You might also see that you perform better under pressure, People who do are in huge demand in most every industry.
 
At the office or behind a counter, performance under stress can lead to positive feedback. And promotions.
 
Employers value someone who can keep their cool. With a little bit of practice and some positive habits that someone could turn out to be you.
 
 
JohnK 4-11-2022
 
Stick figure hears about pressureOverheard: “No pressure, no diamonds”
                             ~Thomas Carlyle
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for pressure
 

Stick To Your Fitness Resolution

January 31, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

So, how ya’ doing with that fitness resolution? If it’s not going well you’re not alone.

Right about now people put fitness plans on the shelf, so GenuLines is here with a little push to get you going!

Stick To Your Fitness Resolution

We’re well into the new year. January gives many of us a sense of renewal.
 
There’s a common theme here.
 
Our resolutions involve things we’d like to change or achieve in the new year.
One of the more common resolutions involves fitness.
 
We want to look better. Or get healthier.
 
Or we’d like to get a little stronger.
 
fitness tools

 

Failure

Unfortunately, the majority of New Year’s resolutions fail. The fiery motivation felt in late December to mid January begins to wane.
 
By February, we find ourselves at the same place we were the year before.
 
Fitness goals have a way of going unfulfilled. If you’ve ever spent much time in a gym, you know the routine.
 
For the entire month of January members line up at every piece of equipment in the building. The place starts to resemble Times Square.

Good deals?

Advertisements flood the media with discount gym membership rates. They tempt you with all sorts of shiny new pieces of equipment.
 
They promise to transform your body in no time at all.
 
Today we’re going to break down a few tips to help you hit your fitness goals for the rest of the year.

1. Keep Things Simple

It’s easy to slip into overwhelm when you start a new fitness journey. You have to figure out which workout routine to start.
 
What foods to eat. What equipment you’ll need and what to wear to the gym.
 
These can get in the way of your goal.Fitness, as well as life in general, is best kept simple.
 
The best workout routine is the one you’ll stick to. And your nutrition regimen shouldn’t be rocket science either.
 
You know what foods are good for you and what is junk. The most important factor in your fitness success is consistency.

2. Set Reasonable Goals

The media can make drastic body transformations seem like an overnight process. Their ads give you hope that you’ll look like the models used to promote these products.
 
Even more comical are the timeframes in these advertisements. How many times have you heard, “In only 15 minutes per day, 3 times per week, you’ll finally have those six-pack abs?”
 
This is unrealistic since physical changes to your physique don’t work this way.
 
Fitness is about the long game. As you begin your journey, know that while you WILL see progress, it doesn’t happen overnight.
 
Don’t plan gym visits 7 days a week and eating nothing but rice and chicken from a Tupperware container. Set goals that you can stick to.
 
Start small. Like holding yourself accountable to 3 workouts per week.
 
And resist the call of late-night junk food.

3. Develop A Strong “Why”

As we’ve already discussed, fitness is about consistency. The incredible sense of motivation and enthusiasm you feel at the start WILL come and go.
 
If your only goal to work out is to “look better,” keep one thing in mind. There may be a lot of days when that’s just not enough.
 
If you’re going to stick to your fitness goals this year, have a reason why. One that’s strong enough to stick to when the motivation cools off.
 
When the excitement isn’t there and you’d much rather stay in and watch television instead.
 
Your “why” has to be unique to you. Find whatever that is and use it to push through the hard days!
 
JohnK 1-31-2022
 
stick figure hears about fitnessOverheard: “It is a disgrace to grow old through sheer carelessness before seeing what manner of man you may become by developing your bodily strength and beauty to their highest limit.”
                          ~Socrates
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for fitness

Motivation Through Adversity- A Proven Path

November 8, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

A life lived without adversity of some kind is rare. At it’s worst it can seem as though motivation is lost.

With that in mind GenuLines takes a look at a few who made their difficult roads work for them

Motivation Through Adversity- A Proven Path
People sometimes feel that they have no hope. They find themselves in dire situations and believe they’re never going to recover.
 
For instance, a person born with an issue that sets up barriers right from the start.
 
It’s understandable why they feel defeated. But there are examples of people who beat the odds and thrived in the process.
 
reminder of motivation
 
The Miracle Worker
One example is Helen Keller. At the age of 11, she lost both her sight and hearing due to an illness.
 
Her live-in teacher, Anne Sullivan, helped Keller prepare for college. She went on to became a prolific author and activist.
 
And she set up schools for the blind and deaf.
 
Birth of Greatness
You may have heard of Helen Keller, but have you ever heard of Nick Vujicic? Nick was born without arms and legs.
 
He’s now a motivational speaker and evangelist.
 
You can find plenty of videos of Nick doing activities as well as or better than people who have all their limbs. He refuses to let hid situation get in his way.
 
Super Effort
You may remember Christopher Reeves. He was an American actor famous for playing Superman in the 1990s movie series.
 
He developed quadriplegia after a horse riding accident. Shortly after the incident, he used his fame to help others who experience similar fates.
 
There are plenty of other examples of people who rose above their disabilities. It is a source of inspiration and motivation to others who feel helpless.
 
No Quit
These are all examples of people who would be likely to give up based on their circumstances but refused to do so. Their situations were in no way easy to deal with, and they all had long journeys to rise above their situations.
 
They not only accomplished something but excelled at it.
 
Someone in your life may be facing a particularly difficult situation. You can help them by showing the inspiration of the people mentioned in this article.
 
The Takeaway
Even you’re not in a dire situation you can get motivated by these inspiring people. For instance, if you are facing a problem, think about what these people had to go through.
 
Their experience will lend you some perspective. It’ll help motivate you to look for a solution.
 
And don’t look at this as reveling in their misery. Instead, you’re celebrating their lives.
 
And their ability to overcome the adversities they faced.
 
JohnK 11-8-2021
 
Stick figure hears about motivationOverheard: “Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records”
                               ~ William Arthur Ward
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for motivation
 

The Psychology Of Fear

June 7, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Fear is everyone’s companion at various times in life. We know how it feels but we don’t know much about how it works. 

Today GenuLines takes a look at fear and what makes it tick. 

The Psychology Of Fear

Fear is something we all have to deal with in some way at some time. It affects almost every part of the body from breathing to heart rate to muscle control.
 
man with fearBut what is fear? And how can it grip us the way it sometimes does?
 
Today we look at the psychology of fear. Why we feel it.
 
How it works. And what it does to our bodies when we experience it.
 
 
 
 
What is It?
Fear is a default survival tactic for all humans and animals. Fight or flight is pretty much embedded in each of us.
 
What kicks it into gear is the body experiencing fear as a danger (of any sort) approaches. We don’t face as many predators as our more animalistic ancestors did.
 
Yet we feel that something harmful is coming our way.

Decision Time

Fight or flight helps you decide whether the best and safest course of action is to fight the danger or flee from it.
 
But, there are different types of fear. As you well know, we aren’t only afraid of the serious dangers on our paths. The future or social situations are triggers too. They may not be life-threatening but they can provoke a similar fear-induced response.
 
Conditional Fears vs. Inerrant Fears
Inerrant fears are the fears you’re born with (danger, violence, small spaces, heights, etc.). Conditional fears are those you feel because of a bad experience and the fear of duplicating it.
 
Most fight-or-flight-triggering fears are inerrant fears. They involve fears of an approaching life-threatening danger. Conditional fears are more of our everyday fears. Fears of public speaking, relationship failure, the future, etc.
 
Effects On The Body
Fear triggers quite an interesting response in the body. It can spark a different reaction in each person.
 
And it can change with each fearful experience.
 
It can induce panic attacks, which are often different for each person. These usually feature breathing difficulties and shaking, that at times lead to fainting.
 
Your heart gets into the act, racing and making you feel antsy.
 
The Effects Are Many
Fear can affect almost every part of the body. It can keep us from reacting, paralyze us, cause us to make poor decisions, and more.
 
The following are ways that fear can affect our ability to function.
 
Decision Making
The first thing that fear can affect is our ability to make proper decisions. It can weaken the judgment which controls our decision-making abilities.
 
Our actions become defensive actions. These actions hinder your ability to assess options and make more informed decisions.
 
Outlook
Fear can be a big factor in changing your outlook. When the brain picks it up it starts to paint a negative picture. .
 
For instance, let’s say you’re at a Chevron gas station and a dog attacks you. You may start connecting Chevron stations or any gas station with the incident.
 
Panic
Our bodies’ panic reactions can disrupt body functions. Some people react to panic with paralysis and others with breathing problems.
 
Fear affects different people in different ways. Few of us stop to think about the psychology behind it.
 
With better understanding, you can work to overcome your fears. And you can use them to pump up your motivation.
 
JohnK 6-7-2021
 
Stick figure hears about fearOverheard: “Do one thing every day that scares you”
                        ~Eleanor Roosevelt
 
 
 
Article photo by samer daboul from Pexels
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for fear
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