Maybe you are searching among the branches for what only appears in the roots.
Hello Followers,
HAPPY HUMP DAY!
If you could know your future every step of the way, would you want to know it?
The unknown is one of the things that most of us fear and always try to avoid and yet often, regardless of how much we try to know everything and predict the outcome of every decision, we just cannot.
It is because the unknown is a part of life.
The unknown is a part of living.
Dan and I hate not having control.
I was a control freak, I wanted to always know what was ahead of me before I took the step.
I controlled every aspect of my life and every time something did not go my way, or if my plans failed, I ended up crushed and more disappointed.
One thing that Dan and I are learning and are realizing is, instead of fearing the unknown, we must learn to accept it and see it as a good thing.
Because spending our lives trying to control everything was not a happy life.
We were so unhappy, and I missed so many wonderful opportunities just because I did not want to take risks.
The unknown is growth.
Successful people find the unknown fascinating.
Yes, they know that there is always a chance of failing every time we step into the unknown and take risks but there is also learning, experiencing, and growing better.
If you want to improve and change your life, you must embrace the unknown, make mistakes, fail, learn, and grow.
Do not miss life just because you are too afraid to deal with the unknown.
So, as we have been exploring words and how it effects our health, I welcome you to check out the past two weeks posts with words such as, time, faith, self-worth, happiness, encouragement, self-talk, optimism, karma, forgiveness, trust, appreciation, thoughts and words, power, rebuilding, passion, confidence, connection, transitioning, motivation, preparation, coping, laughter, empowerment, limitations, gratitude, circumstance, universe, humor, and change.
Today the word is unknown.
Some people thrive in uncertain times; others become emotionally paralyzed.
The way people respond to the unknown may depend on how afraid they are of the future.
If you fear spiders or snakes, it is based on what you have learned.
Some of these creatures are venomous and can literally kill you.
But not all fears are based on such concrete information.
Some fears are based on what you do not know.
Take for example, Dan when the stock prices plunge, and he fears that this event will hurt us and the economy.
A more personal example?
Me fearing of public speaking.
Part of the terror that I face is not knowing how the audience will respond.
Fear of the unknown is a basic part of many other anxieties, fears, and phobias.
I tell Dan all the time, what you do not know really cannot hurt you.
The psychological term for fear of the unknown is xenophobia.
In modern usage, the word has evolved to mean the fear of strangers or foreigners, but it is original meaning is much broader.
It includes anything or anyone that is unfamiliar or unknown.
Researchers define fear of the unknown as the tendency to be afraid of something you have no information about on any level.
For some people, fearing the unknown can go a step further.
If you feel intensely upset and anxious when you encounter an unknown or unfamiliar situation, you may have developed a state of mind called intolerance of uncertainty.
This means uncertain circumstances feel unbearable to you.
The effects of fear on the body are well known.
They include fast heart rate, quick, shallow breathing, tense muscles, feelings of weakness, blood glucose (sugar) spikes.
When a threat is short-lived, these symptoms go away quickly.
If you feel a near-constant fear of the unknown, though, it could harm your health.
If you are prone to worrying about the unknown, you may have developed a habit of catastrophizing, or imagining worst-case scenarios.
Catastrophizing is known as cognitive distortion.
This is a way of thinking that creates an inaccurate view of reality.
A question!
What would cause the fear of the unknown?
Well, the answer could be either one of these, lack of predictability, and lack of control.
Although anyone can develop a fear of the unknown, behavioral scientists have found that some groups of people may be particularly vulnerable to this kind of anxiety.
Those individuals include people with anxiety and fear disorders, depression, alcohol use disorder, disordered eating, obsessive compulsive disorder, hoarding disorder.
How can we overcome fear of the unknown?
Well, we first can all question our assumptions.
Then we can do some research.
This step is particularly important if you experience fear of the unknown related to your finances.
It may be scary to look at bills and budgets squarely in the eye, but doing so will empower you to make better decisions.
Then we can take actions today to reduce the possibility of a negative outcome down the road.
By listing factors within your control and then taking one small step each day, you can shore up your sense of responsibility and control over your life.
Of course, we need to manage stress with a healthy lifestyle.
These factors can all increase your capacity to deal with the stress that comes from uncertainty: exercise, rest, nutritious food, good relationships, and mindfulness.
So, today if you are fearing the unknown remember there are ways to beat that fear.
Continuing as in the previous posts; 365 morning meditations for joyful days all year long.
The book is SUNRISE GRATITUDE by Emily Silva.
APRIL 26th
RAIN IS A SYMBOL OF washing away the old so that growth can occur.
Rain cleanses and nourishes as well as destroys.
Depending on the force and timing, rain can be a welcomed friend or a feared enemy.
Nature is full of duality.
What can seem good to some can be bad to others.
It is all about the meaning we attribute to something.
The same can go for our words and deeds.
Choose to live with the best intentions and offer nourishment instead of negativity.
PHRASE TO REMEMBER; Health is Wealth.
We stand by this and continue to do daily; walk, meditation, Tai Chi, and Qigong.
Dan and I have started back bouncing and walking to Walk at Home YouTube.
It is always important to change your routine around you but continue keeping a healthy lifestyle.
For us, that may be walking through a park, walking in a mall, or going to the gym and just staying home, bouncing, and walking to Walk at Home with YouTube.
This also includes daily meditation and twice a week Tai Chi.
Release Fear of The Unknown - Ten Minute Guided Meditation to Let Go of Anxiety, Worry, Doubts, Fears
If you would like to follow with us; hash tag words #walk, #meditation #Qigong on the right of the main blog page.
Until Thursday, the adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is changing. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of life is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life Is to give.
HAVE A AMAZING DAY.
