How do you make sure you are not making a decision based on fear?
When fear is part of a decision, logic gets pushed aside because our core human nature is to stay safe. The reptilian brain, located at the base of our brain, wants to keep us safe first and foremost. When we feel threatened, the higher thinking cortex, our frontal lobe, which allows the right and left side of our brain to communicate and make a decision based on our emotions and intellect, shuts down. This is the difference between responding and reacting. A first “responder” will hopefully be thinking and not reacting to a situation, but how can you know if you are making decisions out of fear versus logic?
The higher the intensity of the emotions and opinions, the more likely it is that fear is driving your decisions. When someone is “thinking” using their higher cortex, they are able to stay calm and think things through. The reptilian brain is an “overreaction” that will push you into a fight, flight, or freeze mode. This is not the mode to be in when making major decisions. So, if you feel that your emotions are very intense, don’t make any big decisions. Stop, take a moment to be present, journal, meditate, or do whatever you need to calm yourself. Know that when you trust in God, you are always safe. When that trust is replaced by an outside source, we have given our power away. Trust that you are safe. Whatever has happened, already happened and what is to come, you will overcome. You’ve come this far. It is not the end, just the beginning of another day, month, and year of the rest of your life.
Below is a wonderful EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) video to help lessen fear and use your higher-level cortex. Anytime that you are feeling overwhelmed, your emotions and opinions are intense, or you feel your blood pressure rising for any reason, watch this 15-minute video. You’ll be amazed how quickly you can get yourself back to a responsive, not overreacting, more peaceful state of being.
Let logic and faith be your guide.
~ Your Inner Guide
Voyage to HEAL Weekly Task
Stretch: Inside of your mouth, above the palate (the top of your mouth), lies the pituitary gland. This gland is responsible for hormone production. Our hormones can drive our emotions and make them rather intense. Ensuring that this area is functioning well is so critical for logical decision-making. So, wash your hands first, then place your left pointer finger on the middle of the palate of your mouth. Place your right hand on the top of your head. Envision everything in between your hands softening and illuminating. You will feel the palate of your mouth softening and your mouth expanding.
*Just a note, if the top of your mouth is rigid with lots of firm bumps on it, this is an indicator that you have a lot of tension in the roof of your mouth. The top of your mouth should be soft and smooth with gentle, flowing ridges if any at all. There is a hard and soft palate, so the front part of the palate by your teeth may have ridges. The back of the palate should be smooth.
Exercise: Let’s get the endorphins flowing which helps you release energy and get to a more calm state of being. So, turn on that core and do 15-25 jumping jacks or jump rope for 5 minutes 3x/day if possible. If that is too intense, just do the arm movements for 2-3 minutes to get your heart rate up. Bust out a sweat. It’s good for you. Burn off some steam so you are not sitting around letting your emotions get a workout out more than your body.
Habitual Change: I bite my lip when I am nervous or anxious. Obviously, this is not a good habit. Other people chew gum, eat, drink, smoke, chew on pencils, straws, etc. These are vises because from birth, the mouth is a center for calming. Babies suck on pacifiers because the suckling effect calms them. None of this is good for our mouth health. So, catch yourself in the act, stop, breathe, and tell yourself that you are safe. I do not need this vise. I am safe.
Perspective enlightenment: Whatever has happened, already happened and what is to come, I will overcome.
Journaling option: What can you do right now to feel safe? Answer this question only after watching the video above. As you journal, keep going. Do not stop until you have written at least 3 pages. This will get you into the core of your beliefs and not the superficial fight, flight, or fear response.
This week’s blog post coincides with week 1-3 of the Voyage to HEAL, but mostly week 2: I am Safe. These are powerful weeks of the Voyage to HEAL. I highly encourage you to listen to the meditation for week 2. You can purchase this week in the store on the webpage. You can also purchase the Inner Peace Meditation CD or start your full online Voyage to HEAL. Click here to visit the store.
Godspeed on your Voyage to HEAL
Love,
Jocelyn