Primal Primer 7 (Mentality)
Through thousands of years of evolution, the human fear response has been forged with the sole purpose of maximizing survival. An intricately systemic reflex involving coordination of brain, nervous system, and body; orchestrating physiological and psychological changes priming action. Broadly speaking, flight and fight instincts rapidly prepare the body for memorable action in response to dangers both real and imagined.
Fight & Flight
Endocrine Accelerant – Adrenaline floods the bloodstream increasing blood pressure and respiration for immediate action.
Energy Redistribution – Blood is redirected from non-essential processes (digestion & appendage) to muscles and vital organs for immediate physical exertion.
Sense Sharpening – Pupils dilate to improve vision by making sight acute for better detection of environmental cues.
Brave New World
Fear is often manufactured and misleadingly instinctual. Previously serving as a necessary survival mechanism, attenuating harmony between survival and death. Modern advertisers and media now exploit primitive instincts through fear-oriented content, compelling consumption and reliance on their information. Most of what we fear nowadays is false and distracting from our accession to the highest potentials.
Instigated anticipatory fears trigger physiological responses causing our brains to prioritize safety and overreaction as opposed to efficient planning and contemplation. With an advanced cerebral cortex, we can freely model contingencies even in the absence of real threats: a phenomenon known as worrying and if sufficiently chronic leading to anxiety and depression. By creating disposable avatars of ourselves In the mind-scape, we sacrifice countless versions of who we could be to imagined peril, while developing strategies often in conflict with experienced reality.
~Cave Implementation~
Beyond fear lies the person you aspire to be. Hope has never been a strategy for success; do not simply wish to avoid fear. Instead, identify and isolate fears with the intention of exploring deep and dark forests of discomfort. Train yourself to become comfortable with what is inherently and at times, unreasonably uncomfortable. Seeking out fears on your terms surfaces anxieties into disinfecting and discerning light. The world always appears less intimidating at dawn.
Create an exposure plan allowing for gradual confrontation of fear. Instead of avoiding discomfort, intentionally, leverage as powerful catalyst of self-discovery. Consider practicing mindfulness techniques to reshape inner dialogues, replacing fearful thoughts with affirmations of strength and capability. While fear is a natural response, it should not control life.
Recognize, Analyze, & Transform Fear Into A Catalyst For Self-Discovery.
