Constructive Activities in the Face of Fear - Dec 2008

Many people these days are feeling some trepidation and fear about the economy and their future. It is certainly understandable. Our normal response when fear presents itself is either one of the fight, flight or freeze responses. These options aren’t overly constructive.

I was listening to a CD produced by Daniel Goleman, the fellow who is a guru on the subject of emotional intelligence. He said fear is thinking that the future is going to go badly. Right now the economic situation lends itself to making one think this way. I wonder though what we can do that is constructive. Even cleaning up one’s office is better than fight, flight or freeze. What constructive options can you think of doing?

There is a book by Susan Jeffers called Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway. She recommends that we act in the face of fear. Her rationale is that if we are growing and stretching, fear will inevitably be present. Fear will be present because of the newness that presents itself with our growth and stretch activities. I used to recommend this book to clients in the midst of a career change. This topic could apply to just about anyone these days.

Another book that caught my eye is called The Impossible Will Take a Little While; A Citizens Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear by Paul Loeb.  It contains inspiring stories by people who have dealt well with very difficult situations.