FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
I’ve never been afraid of the unknown, in fact I actually look forward to experiencing new things. I’ve had too many formative years with a kind of known that wasn’t all that I wanted it to be, so for me the unknown was filled with the possibility of something better. It’s the eternal dangling carrot ~ maybe that job, that relationship, that re-location, will allow me to experience something better than what I have now. There are downsides to that for sure. Never being content with what you have, never digging deep and growing roots somewhere, or with someone ~ always a novice, never the master.
But, there’s a happy medium I’ve found, one where I check in and challenge myself: how can I elevate this relationship, job, product, experience…what are the possibilities?? This is really about facing the unknown and showing up for it, instead of settling for the comfort of “known”.
This time we’re experiencing now is all about the unknown: what will happen next week? Next month? Will I be able to support myself and my family? Will I ever feel safe going out and travelling again? We can re-frame all of that and look inward during this time. Look at all that you have now: your relationship to yourself, and to your family; the work you do in the world; the ways you contribute to your community; how you spend your money and where ~ all of these observations and more are opportunities to create a healthier, happier world on the other side.
Don’t take this time and wait for it to end, or mourn what was. Take this time to begin to envision your future, to create what your world can be.
Let’s look at this another way:
Is it possible that the poison can become the antidote? That the established norm of wanting to solve a pain point over creating joy is no longer valid? That we don’t need to reflexively resort to fight or flight mode, as we’ve evolved past that. Instead, what if we focused on what lights us up over how can we fix a problem? In classic marketing, it’s been established that people are more apt to buy something that remedies an issue they have (stained teeth! receding hairline! aging skin!) than they are to buy something because it brings them joy. Most people respond to the fear that is inherent in the marketing model: you have less than white teeth, a diminishing hairline, and aging skin…this will render you less attractive, less desirable, less able to make money, less able to be seen.
I wonder if in this extended moment of pause, we can re-frame that entire picture. Instead of falling prey to fear-mongering, can we search for joy in all the moments of our day? Can we choose things that just make us feel good, over trying to fix something? If we did this every day ~ imagine what a different world it would be.
Let’s make that world.
Wishing you wellness ~
Jill
But, there’s a happy medium I’ve found, one where I check in and challenge myself: how can I elevate this relationship, job, product, experience…what are the possibilities?? This is really about facing the unknown and showing up for it, instead of settling for the comfort of “known”.
This time we’re experiencing now is all about the unknown: what will happen next week? Next month? Will I be able to support myself and my family? Will I ever feel safe going out and travelling again? We can re-frame all of that and look inward during this time. Look at all that you have now: your relationship to yourself, and to your family; the work you do in the world; the ways you contribute to your community; how you spend your money and where ~ all of these observations and more are opportunities to create a healthier, happier world on the other side.
Don’t take this time and wait for it to end, or mourn what was. Take this time to begin to envision your future, to create what your world can be.
Let’s look at this another way:
Is it possible that the poison can become the antidote? That the established norm of wanting to solve a pain point over creating joy is no longer valid? That we don’t need to reflexively resort to fight or flight mode, as we’ve evolved past that. Instead, what if we focused on what lights us up over how can we fix a problem? In classic marketing, it’s been established that people are more apt to buy something that remedies an issue they have (stained teeth! receding hairline! aging skin!) than they are to buy something because it brings them joy. Most people respond to the fear that is inherent in the marketing model: you have less than white teeth, a diminishing hairline, and aging skin…this will render you less attractive, less desirable, less able to make money, less able to be seen.
I wonder if in this extended moment of pause, we can re-frame that entire picture. Instead of falling prey to fear-mongering, can we search for joy in all the moments of our day? Can we choose things that just make us feel good, over trying to fix something? If we did this every day ~ imagine what a different world it would be.
Let’s make that world.
Wishing you wellness ~
Jill
