Understanding Fear : An Insightful Talk With Meditation

In today's session we will essentially be looking at six basic fears and these are the basic fears that has been outlined by a very popular author called Napoleon Hill.

Y'all might have heard of him.

He has a very famous book that's called that's titled Think and Grow Rich and Napoleon Hill he essentially talks about six basic fears.

He talks about six basic fears and all the other fears kind of get branched under those six basic fears and today we will be looking at these six basic fears.

We will be trying to make ourselves aware of how these fears manifest in our life.

We will be going through a meditation through all the areas of our life to see what are the fears that are showing up in all of these areas.

Starting with the six basic fears,

So firstly there's the fear of poverty and this is the fear of not having enough money or the sources and it drives people to stay in unfulfilled jobs.

It makes people avoid taking risks that could lead to greater wealth.

Then there's the fear of criticism and this is a fear of what others might think or say about your actions,

Your ideas,

Your lifestyle and many of us are held back because we are too concerned with the opinions of others.

There's a fear of ill health.

Fear of becoming sick is a very common worry and this fear can affect our well-being and motivation.

Then there's the fear of loss of love.

That fear is rooted in the idea of losing someone's affection or being rejected or losing someone close to you and this can create anxiety in relationships.

Then there's the fear of old age.

Many people fear aging and what comes with aging like physical decline,

Loss of attractiveness,

Decreased opportunities and this fear can hold us back and prevent us from living a full life and then there's the biggest one of them all,

The fear of death and this is a fear that affects many many people.

It leads to anxiety about life and it prevents us from taking bold actions or enjoying what is happening in the present.

These fears are the root causes of many of the limitations we place on ourselves and learning how to overcome them is essentially a key to achieving success and happiness.

All our fears hold us back from our potential.

Let's look at these fears in a little bit more detail.

So the fear of poverty and how does this manifest in our life?

The fear of poverty is essentially driven by an anxiety about financial stability,

About the loss of security.

It could also be about the inability to provide for one's selves or a loved ones and under the fear of poverty we have different fears coming up like the fear of unemployment,

The anxiety about losing one's job,

The fear of losing investments like the investments we hold in stocks or properties or business ventures.

There's the fear of debt,

Fear of owing money and not being able to pay it back.

There's the fear of homelessness.

There's some people have this worry of not having a place to live because of financial hardship.

Then there's the fear of not being able to afford our basic needs,

Not able to afford our basic food,

Healthcare,

Shelter requirements.

Some people have a fear of bankruptcy,

The anxiety over becoming financially insolvent or losing assets.

Some people have a fear of dependence.

That's the fear of relying on others financially or becoming a burden to family and friends.

And then there's also the fear of social stigma,

The concern about being judged for financial struggles or being judged for poverty or being judged for our living conditions.

So the fear of poverty,

This is one of the most paralyzing and pervasive fears.

Ironically,

We do not need to be poor in the sense of not having money to experience the fear of poverty.

Even people with a lot of money experience the fear of poverty.

Essentially,

This fear is rooted in the anxiety that one will not have enough money or one will not have enough resources or one will not have enough material security.

And this can lead to feelings of scarcity.

It can keep people in a state of self-doubt.

This fear of poverty can cause us to play it safe instead of taking risks that could lead to our financial growth.

The fear of poverty stops people from pursuing entrepreneurial ventures,

From starting businesses,

From changing careers,

Sometimes even from asking for a raise.

How does this fear manifest?

This fear generally tends to manifest in very destructive ways like an obsession with saving,

Hoarding,

Fear of spending even when it is necessary to spend,

Or that constant anxiety over what will happen in the future.

And essentially,

The fear of poverty,

It prevents us from investing in opportunities.

It prevents us from taking financial risks which could improve our situation.

So some examples of the fear of poverty,

Avoiding starting a new business venture,

Fearing that it would fail and it would leave you in financial ruin,

Staying in a secure but unfulfilling job.

And there are many people,

Many people who often stay in unsatisfactory jobs simply because they fear losing the steady paycheck and the stability that comes with it.

Another example is underspending on necessary improvements.

This fear of poverty may cause us to delay essential purchases like investing in new skills,

Investing in equipment,

Investing in education,

Simply because they fear not having enough resources in the future.

The fear of poverty also holds us back from enjoying life's experiences.

Many people might forego travel,

They might forego hobbies,

They might forego their entertainment,

They might forego their relaxation,

Simply out of a fear of spending.

And they do this even when they can afford it.

Some people do indulge in such miserly behavior.

So how do I overcome this fear of poverty?

So for starters,

Develop a mindset of abundance.

Instead of focusing on what you lack,

Start to cultivate a mentality that the world has abundant opportunities.

And simply having this shift helps to combat the fear of scarcity.

There's the saying that what you focus on expands.

And when we focus on not having enough,

That is what we experience.

We keep experiencing not having enough.

But simply shifting our mindset to a mindset of abundance,

Where there is enough,

There is a lot,

There is enough to go around for everybody,

This shift can help us move from this fear of scarcity.

When it comes to money being one of the reasons of the fear of poverty,

Another strategy is to improve your financial literacy.

Start learning how to manage money,

Start learning how to budget,

Start learning how to save,

Start learning how to invest.

Because as long as we are as long as we are ignorant,

Our ignorance breeds a fear.

It is because of our ignorance that our fear is able to thrive.

But once we start educating ourselves on or once we start attaining a level of financial literacy,

This can reduce the fear of poverty.

In today's world,

I mean,

We have the resources available to us a simple search on YouTube,

Just spending a few minutes a day educating yourself.

And it,

It doesn't really cost anything.

Another strategy to overcome this fear of poverty is to set realistic financial goals.

Break down your financial achievements into achievable steps.

Steps like building an emergency fund or planning for retirement.

What this does is it helps you regain control of your finances.

And then there's a strategy of taking calculated risks.

Move out of your financial comfort in small measured ways,

Whether it's investing or seeking a new job opportunity.

Starting small helps to build confidence.

So that's the fear of poverty.

And from the fear of poverty,

Poverty,

We go to the next big one.

And that's the fear of criticism.

And this fear arises from a deep need for approval and the fear of negative judgment from others.

The types of fears that some of the types of fears that come under the fear of criticism is the fear of being judged by peers,

The fear of public speaking,

The fear of rejection,

The fear of being laughed at,

The fear of disappointing others,

Fear of embarrassment,

The fear of not being liked,

The fear of being exposed as inadequate,

These are some of the ways that the fear of criticism manifests itself.

The fear of criticism is a very deep-seated worry about how others perceive us.

People are terrified of being judged,

They are terrified of being ridiculed,

They are terrified of being disapproved by others.

And this fear of criticism,

It limits our creativity,

It stifles our ambition,

And it prevents our personal growth because we become overly concerned with the opinions of others.

And as a result,

We confirm to societal expectations or we avoid stopping into the spotlight,

All in an effort to avoid being criticized.

This fear can be particularly destructive because it inhibits our authenticity.

Instead of living true to our desires,

To our talents,

To our aspirations,

We live according to the perceived judgments of others.

Some examples,

A hesitation to express our feelings,

A fear of being judged by peers,

A hesitation to express our opinions at work,

Avoiding entrepreneurship or creative projects,

Changing our personal appearance or our behaviors simply to conform,

Not pursuing a passion.

So these are some examples of the fear of criticism.

And how do I overcome this fear?

Some of the strategies.

Firstly is to recognize that criticism is inevitable.

And everyone,

Especially those who pursue success,

They face criticism.

How do I deal with the fear of criticism?

How do I deal with the fear of criticism?

I accept it as part of the process of growth and achievement.

It comes with growth and achievement.

And if people are criticizing you,

Then you're probably doing something right.

Another strategy is to develop inner confidence.

Work on building your self-esteem.

Build your self-esteem in such a way that external opinions have less influence over your actions.

How do I develop my inner confidence?

Affirmations is a good way to start.

Start the day by repeating affirmations that really support you on the journey that you want to go on.

You can also repeat these affirmations in front of a mirror.

Also celebrate your successes.

Because sometimes we forget to celebrate our successes.

We focus more on the failures,

More on the negatives.

Celebrate your successes and value your perspective.

Another strategy to overcome the fear of criticism is to seek constructive feedback.

It's very important to learn to differentiate between destructive feedback and constructive feedback.

Embrace the feedback that helps you to grow.

Ignore everything else.

And another strategy is to surround yourself with supportive individuals.

Cultivate relationships with people who uplift you.

Cultivate relationships with people who cultivate relationships with people who encourage you to be bold,

Who encourage you to be creative,

Who encourage you to be authentic.

That's the fear of criticism.

The next one is the fear of ill health.

This relates to both our physical and mental well-being.

And it often arises from anxieties about vulnerability,

About suffering,

About losing independence.

And the sub fears that come out of a fear of ill health,

Some of them are the fear of chronic illness or the fear of a terminal illness,

The fear of injury,

The fear of becoming mentally ill,

The fear of pain,

The fear of a disability,

The fear of a contagious disease,

And sometimes even the fear of a medical procedure.

So the fear of ill health.

This fear essentially involves an excessive preoccupation with one's physical well-being.

It is necessary to be mindful of our health,

But excessively focusing on what can go wrong,

The fear of illness,

This can be paralyzing.

And this fear can,

It decreases the satisfaction that we get out of life.

And it also keeps us from enjoying life,

Because we may be constantly anxious about our health deteriorating.

And this fear is essentially rooted in the idea that illness will bring pain,

Suffering or death.

And for some,

This fear may be aggravated by family histories of disease or experiences with past illnesses.

Some examples of the fear of ill health,

Constantly worrying about minor symptoms,

Assuming that small aches or pains are signs of a serious illness.

Another example is avoiding physical activities for fear of injury.

So sometimes we may reframe from exercising or engaging in a physical activity because we are afraid of getting hurt.

And ironically,

Avoiding physical activities can lead to poor health.

Another example is when we over-focus on preventive measures.

So we may develop an unhealthy fixation on health precautions.

And this may lead us to constantly,

Or we may do this because we are constantly fearing contamination or illness.

Another example is believing that any illness is catastrophic.

So a minor illness like a cold may lead to increase in anxiety because we may believe that this will escalate into something life-threatening.

So how do I overcome the fear of ill health?

Firstly,

Focus on preventive health,

Regular exercise,

A healthy diet and mindfulness.

A proactive approach to health creates a sense of control and reduces our anxiety.

Another strategy is to develop a balanced perspective,

To accept that minor illnesses are part of life and to realize,

To become aware that we are catastrophizing every symptom.

Another strategy to overcome is to practice self-stress-reducing techniques like yoga,

Meditation or breathing exercises.

Just doing this itself can reduce anxiety about illness.

And then limit your exposure to alarming health information.

Don't obsess over medical articles or news stories about diseases because this only leads to heightened fear and anxiety.

So that's the fear of ill health.

Then we have the fear of loss of love.

This fear is rooted in emotional vulnerability and the anxiety of being abandoned or unloved.

Some of the fears that come under the fear of loss of love.

We have the fear of abandonment,

The anxiety about being left by loved ones or partners or family.

We have the fear of betrayal,

Where there's concern about being deceived,

Cheated or hurt by someone close.

There's a fear of rejection in relationships.

There's the fear of unrequited love,

Worrying that your love or affection may not be reciprocated.

There's the fear of losing a partner,

Anxiety about a spouse or partner leaving,

Dying or falling out of love.

There's the fear of being alone,

The fear of not having meaningful connections or relationships in life.

There's a fear of emotional vulnerability,

The anxiety about opening up to someone and being hurt.

And then there's a fear of intimacy,

The fear of getting too close to someone emotionally,

Which may lead to potential loss or pain.

So the fear of loss of love.

And this stems from a very deep emotional anxiety that we will lose the affection or approval of the person that we care about.

And this can lead to possessiveness.

It can lead to insecurity.

It can lead to unhealthy relationship dynamics.

People who suffer from this fear often experience intense jealousy,

Anxiety,

Anxiety specifically about abandonment,

Or they may cling to toxic relationships in an effort to avoid rejection.

The fear of loss of love also leads to self-sabotaging behaviors where we may suppress our needs,

Suppress our desires or suppress our independence in order to maintain someone's love.

Some examples,

Jealousy in relationships,

The constant need for approval,

Avoiding confrontation in relationships or clinging to toxic relationships.

So how do I work with this fear of loss of love?

So firstly,

Cultivate self-love and confidence.

Because when you love and accept yourself,

You become less dependent on others to make you feel whole and worthy.

Another strategy is to communicate openly and honestly.

Because healthy relationships are built on mutual trust.

They are built on understanding.

They are built on communication.

So issues should be addressed directly instead of out of fear of losing love.

Another effective strategy is to set boundaries.

When you set boundaries,

You ensure that you're not sacrificing your own well-being.

You're not sacrificing your own values to maintain a relationship.

And then understand that love is not scarce.

You need to recognize that love is abundant and that losing love is not a bad thing.

Love is abundant and that losing one relationship does not mean that you'll never experience love again.

So that's the fear of loss of love.

And then there's the fear of old age.

And the fear of old age stems from concerns about losing your physical and mental capacities.

It stems from social relevance or facing mortality.

Some of the fears that come under the fear of old age are the fear of becoming irrelevant,

The anxiety about losing professional or social relevance as one ages,

The fear of physical decline,

Worry about losing strength,

Mobility or energy as you grow older,

The fear of cognitive decline,

Concern about memory loss,

Dementia or reduced mental sharpness that comes with age,

The fear of dependence,

Fear of becoming dependent on others for basic care or daily activities,

The fear of financial insecurity in old age,

The worry about not having enough savings or resources to support oneself,

The fear of social isolation,

Fear of losing connections with family,

With friends or with the community because of age,

The fear of losing attractiveness,

Concern about no longer being seen as physically attractive or desirable as one ages,

And then there's the fear of death,

The anxiety about the proximity of death and the unknown beyond aging.

So the fear of old age,

Essentially rooted in concerns about losing physical abilities,

Losing attractiveness or losing relevance.

Our society often promotes youth as the ideal and this can lead us to developing this anxiety about growing older.

We fear we become less capable,

We fear we'll become less independent,

We fear we will become socially irrelevant and this fear can cause us to fixate on staying young or to avoid thinking about aging altogether.

And this fear can also prevent us from embracing the wisdom and the opportunities that come with aging and many people delay the time and they cling to their youth or they refuse to acknowledge the natural aging process.

Some examples,

Obsessing over the physical signs of aging,

Becoming overly concerned with wrinkles,

With grey hair or other signs of aging or spending excessively on anti-aging products.

Another example is that feeling that opportunities diminish with age.

Many people avoid pursuing career changes or educational opportunities because they believe it's too late for them to succeed.

Another example is the avoidance of discussions of aging or retirement.

Some people may refuse to plan for retirement or plan for the future,

Simply because they fear acknowledging that they are aging.

And then there's the anxiety about losing relevance in society,

The worry that we will be left behind as younger generations take over.

So how do I overcome this fear?

To start with,

I embrace aging as a natural process.

I accept that it is inevitable and I focus on the wisdom,

The experiences and the opportunities that come with it.

I stay physically and mentally active.

I exercise regularly.

I make sure I have mental stimulation because I know that this can help maintain my physical health and my cognitive function as I age.

I redefine my purpose.

I start to find new ways to feel purposeful,

Whether it's through mentoring,

Whether it's through cultivating appropriate hobbies or getting involved in the community.

And I focus on present opportunities instead of worrying about lost youth or what's going to happen in the future.

I concentrate on what I can do today.

I concentrate on what I can do now and I enjoy this stage of my life fully.

That's the fear of old age.

And then there is the fear is the fear of death.

And the fear of death,

This encompasses anxieties related to a mortality,

The unknown and the afterlife.

And some of the fears that come under the fear of death.

There's the fear of dying in pain,

The anxiety of experiencing physical suffering during the process of dying.

Then there's the fear of the unknown,

The concern about what happens after death,

The fear of non-existence.

There's the fear of not having lived fully or the fear of leaving loved ones behind or the fear of loved ones leaving you behind.

The fear of the afterlife,

The fear of sudden or premature death,

The fear of death due to accidents or violence,

And then the fear of being forgotten.

The fear of death.

And this is perhaps the most primal of all fears.

The unknown nature of death can lead to deep anxiety,

Can lead to existential dread.

It can lead to avoidance of thinking of a mortality.

And this fear can lead us to live conservatively,

To avoid this,

To avoid living fully out of a concern for injury or death.

Some examples,

Avoiding this in life due to fear of injury or death,

Or obsessing over religious or existential questions,

Or worrying constantly about death.

And then refusing to discuss end-of-life matters,

Like refusing to plan for end-of-life such as lighting a will or making healthcare directives,

Simply because the topic of death makes us uncomfortable.

What would be the strategies to overcome this fear?

And it starts with acceptance,

To accept death as a natural part of life.

And this knowledge can give life deeper meaning,

It can give life more urgency.

And possibly,

If there's one thing that's sure,

Is that we will all die and nobody has cheated,

Nobody has been able to cheat death.

So accepting death as a natural part of life.

Then living fully in the present,

Enjoying the present moment,

Enjoying today for what it is,

And stop worrying about what may happen in the future,

Especially if you cannot control what may happen in the future.

Cultivate spiritual or philosophical peace.

Explore beliefs or practices that provide comfort regarding death,

Whether it's true religious faith,

Whether it's true meditation,

Or simply philosophical contemplation.

And then plan for death pragmatically.

Take care of end-of-life arrangements.

If you need that will to be written,

Write it down.

What this does is it reduces anxiety and gives you a sense of control over your legacy.

So the six basic fears.

The fear of poverty,

The fear of criticism,

The fear of ill health,

The fear of loss of love,

The fear of old age,

And the fear of death.

So we'll go now into a guided meditation,

Into a reflective meditation.

And the purpose of this meditation is simply to go through each of our life areas and without judgment to become aware of what fears come up in each of these areas of your life.

If you are sitting,

Sink comfortably into your seat.

If you are sleeping,

Feel yourself sink into your bed.

And if it is safe to do so,

You can close your eyes and bring your focus to your breath.

Bring your focus to the air as it enters your nostrils and as it exits your nostrils.

And with every breath,

Feel the weight of your body sinking into the surface beneath you.

And start to picture roots extending from your body,

Going into the ground,

Grounding you in this present moment.

As you inhale,

You are drawing up strength from the earth.

And as you exhale,

You are releasing any fears or anxieties.

And visualize a tranquil space,

Maybe a quiet room or peaceful meadow or the seaside.

And in this space,

Imagine there are doors and each door is representing a different area of your life.

Each door leads to a specific aspect of your life.

Approach the first door.

Open it and step into a space that represents your physical health and nutrition.

And in this safe space,

Allow any fears related to this area to surface,

Any fears related to your physical health,

To your nutrition.

And start to explore them without judgment.

What is the most important thing in your life?

Without judgment,

What fears come to your mind?

Maybe it's the fear of not being able to maintain a healthy lifestyle or the constant worry about health issues or the worry about your choices on your well-being.

Simply observe these fears.

And you can leave this door and move now to the second door.

And as you open this door,

It reveals a space dedicated to your relationships.

Reflect on any fears associated with your connections with others.

Whatever fears arise,

Simply observe these fears without judgment.

Maybe it's the fear of rejection or the fear of conflicts in your relationships.

Or the fear of not being accepted for who you are.

Simply observe.

And we leave this door and move to the third door.

You open the third door.

This door leads you to a space symbolizing your career,

Your educational pursuits.

What fears are present that are related to your professional life,

Your educational life?

Let these fears surface.

Maybe it's the fear of not being successful in your career or the worry about job stability.

Simply let these fears arise.

Observe them.

And move to the next door.

This door represents your financial space.

Acknowledge any fears related to money.

Any fears related to your personal finances.

What financial fears come to mind?

Is there the fear of financial instability?

Is there the fear of financial instability?

Or the worry about unexpected expenses?

Or not having enough savings?

Let these fears around money surface and observe them without judgment.

And moving to the next door.

And moving to the next door.

The door representing our personal growth,

Our spirituality.

And reflect on any fears associated with your journey of self-discovery.

What fears arise here?

Is there a fear of not evolving,

Not growing personally or spiritually?

Or maybe there's the worry about whether you're on the right path or making meaningful progress.

Simply let the fears arise.

Simply let the fears arise.

And now open the final door.

The door leading to a space representing your home and community.

What fears are present here?

Maybe there's the fear of not feeling secure in your home or within your community.

Or there's the worry about strained relationship with neighbours.

Or the lack of support.

Simply let these fears arise.

Simply let these fears arise.

And in this tranquil space,

Surrounded by the visualisation of your fears,

Take a deep breath in.

And as you exhale,

Release each fear.

Allow it to dissipate in the atmosphere.

Take a deep breath in and as you exhale,

Release each fear.

Allow it to dissipate into the atmosphere.

And affirm your understanding of these fears by repeating after me.

I acknowledge and understand the fears within each life area.

I am compassionate towards myself.

I am compassionate towards myself.

As I explore these emotions.

And gently bring your awareness back to the present moment.

Wiggle your fingers,

Wiggle your toes.

And when you are ready,

You may open your eyes.

Thank you for taking this time to understand fears.

To also take the time to meditate.

To see what fears show up in different life areas.

A good step forward would be to consider journaling your reflections.

And anything that came up during this session.

As this will allow for further self-awareness,

For a deeper understanding.

It's good to keep in mind that this process is a step towards cultivating a deeper sense of self-compassion.

And this is where the growth happens.

Love,

Light,

Blessings,

Namaste