S3 Ep6: How Does Mindfulness Address Fear of the Unknown?

The unknown is rife with uncertainty The unknown is a mystery. And its mysterious nature makes people uncomfortable. Uncertainty is about as far from comfortable and familiar as you can get. Why is it all so damned scary? Fear and leaving your comfort zone Understanding what comfort zones are is hugely important. Comfort is a misnomer. What it should be called instead is a familiarity zone or a stability zone. But the stability isn’t real, genuine stability. It’s a false sense of such. Comfort zones are known. Even when they are not necessarily desired - because they’re known and familiar - you attach yourself to them. On the other side of your comfort zone, there’s something you desire for your life. It might be tangible or intangible, big or small – but it’s different from where you are and where you came from. But while you have an idea of what you’re after – what it will look like is unknown. The unknown is full of uncertainty. And uncertainty is scary. It can be so damned scary that leaving your comfort zone – and the discomfort – feels like a bad idea. The familiar now wasn’t always familiar The familiar, everyday technology in our lives – such as whatever device you’re using to read these words – was beyond unknown to the people who lived only 100 years ago. Just 50 years ago, the concepts might have existed – but were not familiar to any by a very few. We take this for granted. Things are and have always been this way – save that this is utterly untrue. Why? Because change is the one and only constant in the Universe. Everyone and everything changes. The unknown isn’t truly scary. It’s any possible, potential suffering that scares you. Beyond the unknown What will you find beyond the unknown? If you knew, it wouldn’t be unknown. But I can tell you there is one, known answer. You’ll find something. It always comes down to the choices you make. And if you desire to have control of your life experience, you must practice mindfulness. Being in the here and now – and consciously, mindfully aware – is grounding and centering. You’re not in the past or future – but now. And that’s known. Really known. When you recognize that the known always comes from the unknown, you can be more aware that being scared of the unknown doesn’t protect or serve you. You’ve crossed the unknown before and will do so again. This week’s Applied Guidance for Mindfulness Tool: Think back on a time you chose to walk into the unknown. Think about it and write it down. Then, write down these questions and their answers: ·        Do you remember how it made you feel? ·        Can you recall the fears it brought up at the time? ·        Do you remember how you got past it, and how that felt? Look over what you wrote and see how it makes you think and feel now. If there is something you’re currently striving to do that is a departure from your comfort zone into the unknown – how can you apply to above to overcome any fear and uncertainty surrounding it?   Author Website Email Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok Blogs: titaniumdon.com and mjblehart.medium.com Cover artist Fe Mahoney: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TaliasInspirations