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
Today, fear is often manufactured and misleadingly instinctual. Whereas before 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 self-empowerment and our accession to 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. By creating disposable avatars of ourselves, we sacrifice countless versions of who we could be, to imagined peril, while developing strategies often in conflict with experienced reality.
~Cave Implementation~
Weaponize fear: beyond lies the person you aspire to be. Hope is not a strategy of 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.
Recognizing fear is essential, but equally important is not letting them dictate action or inner dialogue. Begin by acknowledging your fears without judgment. Take inventory of what you fear and assess how these fears impact decisions. Are these fears preventing action or goal attainment?
Create an exposure plan allowing for gradual confrontation of fear. Instead of avoiding discomfort, lean into intentionally, leveraging 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 naturally control life. Embrace a proactive approach to fear—recognize, analyze, and take deliberate action toward goals. By mastering your relationship with fear, you can redirect its energy into positive outcomes and self-empowerment.
While Fear Is A Natural Response, It Should Not Naturally Control Life…Recognize, Analyze, & Transform Into A Catalyst For Self-Discovery.
