The Fear Body: Moving from Flight to Attending and Befriending

😨Fear is a survival mechanism and an anticipation of what could go wrong due to the fragility of life.

🙅🏻‍♂️Fear is often intensified by cultural influences, such as media and societal expectations.

🛡️Our fear management strategies include deflecting, ignoring, and controlling fear to reduce unpleasantness.

🏃‍♀️Flight is a common fear response, where we try to escape or pull back from fear triggers.

🤝Shifting from flight mode to attending and befriending fear requires curiosity, awareness, and a willingness to be present with fear.

What is the fear body?

—The fear body is a term used to describe the contracted state of our mind and body when we are caught up in fear. It can manifest as tension, restlessness, distraction, or reactivity.

How does fear affect our lives?

—Fear can impact our lives by influencing our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It can lead to anxiety, judgment, and avoidance of certain situations or experiences.

What are some common fear management strategies?

—Common fear management strategies include deflecting fear, ignoring it, or trying to control it. These strategies aim to reduce the unpleasantness of fear.

What is flight mode?

—Flight mode is a fear response where we try to escape or pull back from fear triggers. It can manifest as avoidance, distraction, or seeking safety in familiar and comfortable situations.

How can we shift from flight mode to attending and befriending fear?

—Shifting from flight mode to attending and befriending fear requires cultivating curiosity, awareness, and a willingness to be present with fear. It involves recognizing our habitual fear reactions and choosing to respond with curiosity and compassion.

00:14Introducing the concept of the fear body and its impact on our lives.

04:00Exploring the flight response and our tendency to control and avoid fear.

10:32Understanding the core emotion of fear and its link to the fragility of life.

12:55Discussing common fear management strategies, such as deflecting, ignoring, and controlling.

15:23Exploring the flight response and how it relates to feeling unprepared or anticipating something going wrong.