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Day to day life situations can create stress that results in us questioning our abilities to cope. However, during these times of stress hope is not lost. Yet, in times of overwhelming stress we are undoubtedly faced with an “emotional evaluation”. Do we choose a new path or fall to unhealthy habits? When we are hopefilled, we tend to make attempts at developing new patterns that can potentially create more positive results. On the other hand, what causes us to fall into unhealthy habits that lead to the feeling of helplessness?

In my experience the culprit is FEAR. The fear of the unknown. The fear of what may come and not knowing how it will turn out can be debilitating and paralyzing for many individuals faced with inevitable change. How do we learn fear? Once we learn fear how do we cope with it? Once we learn how to cope, do we ultimately have a better understanding of it? Here is a breakdown of how I interpret the elements of fear.

The F stands for Feelings; these are the brains first line of defense. They alert us of the “how”. How do we feel?

The E stands for Emotions; these determine the “what”. We ask ourselves “what is causing this emotional response”. These are created from our experiences. Understanding the subtle nuances of our feelings have helped us differentiate between sadness from anger.

The A stands for Attachment; this creates the “why”. The driving force of our emotions and feelings, the very thread that connects them all. Helping us in figuring out “why is this so important”? All three elements influence the last phase.

The R stands for Realistic expectations. What “will” happen versus what “could” happen.

Learning how to recognize when our emotions and feelings impact our thinking and ultimately influence our behaviors is a step in the right direction with increasing overall emotional and mental wellbeing. The presence of fear is as normal as the presence of love. Yet we don’t embrace fear the way we do love. Why is that? Have we been taught to shut our eyes to fear because we are unable to control it… or have we only learned to see fear one way?

The Journey of Life has the power to tear an individual down, yet in the very same instance, creates all the essential tools needed to rise and stand again. Furthermore, within the creations of life, each one of us were born with the ability to rise after a fall, and from those experience(s) the body, the mind, and the spirit are reinforced with “that anything and everything is possible”. Sometimes fear can cripple us and cause us to lose hope, yet if we are open to it; fear can be the very thing that pushes us to do the one thing that scares us the most.

Belief in change and hope for something better, anchored with determination and resilience will undoubtedly lead to the future you desire. Your journey continues….