Fear is subtle yet pervasive. It infiltrates your thoughts, your decisions, and often becomes the underlying force behind many of the things you do or opt not to. You wake up each morning with choices—love or fear. Almost every day, fear rushes in like an unwelcome guest, whispering doubts and insecurities before you’ve even had a chance to open your eyes fully.
It starts innocently enough. You ask yourself :-
- What will today look like?
- Is there something I’m afraid of? A task I’m hesitant to tackle because I fear I won’t start it, won’t finish it, or won’t get it right?
- Are there people I’m avoiding out of fear of confrontation, rejection, or awkwardness?
- Have I done something that might be discovered, leading me to feel guilty, embarrassed, or even ashamed?
- What if that thing I’m excited about—something wonderful—gets postponed or canceled? Can I still make it happen, or will something get in the way?
- Will I be acknowledged for my efforts today, or will I go unnoticed, be ridiculed, or criticized?
If there is a chronic situation (an illness or work related challenge) you or your loved one are in, this could look like :-
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- Will things be somewhat okay today or will they worsen?
- Will it be another day of gloom and doom?
- Will this situation have an impact on other things going perfectly well so far?
- Will the sensitivity of it reach someone I wouldn’t want it to?
Even in more mundane respects, milder fears, such as :-
- Will it rain and disrupt my plans?
- Will my flight or train be delayed?
- Will the package I’m waiting for be couriered to me?
These thoughts flood our minds before we’ve even fully gotten out of bed. Fear is always knocking, reminding us of what could go wrong or how we could fail. What if we rewired our brains to choose love instead? What if we trained ourselves to see each of these situations, not as opportunities for fear to taint, but for love to take root and blossom?
Rewiring the Brain: From Fear to Love
Your brains are powerful, and the good news is that they are also malleable. Science tells us that thanks to neuroplasticity, you can rewire your neural pathways through intentional practice. The same way fear became a conditioned response, love and trust can too.
When fear is your default, you may find ourselves stuck in fight-or-flight mode. Your thoughts race, your bodies tighten, and we prepare for the worst. But when we practice choosing love, we slowly shift out of that survival mode and into a state of expansiveness. The brain starts to recognize love, trust, and calm as safe, as the new normal.
How do you do this? One powerful way is through mindfulness and intentional thought-shifting. Every time you catch yourself in a moment of fear, stop and ask:
- Is this fear helping me right now?
- What would love do in this situation?
- How can I reframe this thought so it aligns with trust instead of doubt and fear?
This isn’t about avoiding or dismissing the real challenges you face, but rather about choosing a mindset that empowers you to face those challenges with grace and confidence.
A Morning Routine to Address Fear
Your mornings set the tone for your entire day. It’s in those first moments of waking that youhave the opportunity to direct your thoughts and energy either toward fear or toward love. So, what if you created a morning routine designed to dispel fear and welcome love into your heart?
Here’s a simple morning routine that can help rewire your brain, grounding you in love and trust before the day begins:
1. Wake Up with Gratitude
Before you even get out of bed, take a moment to acknowledge one thing you’re grateful for. It could be as simple as the breath in your lungs, the softness of your bed, or the opportunity to live another day. Gratitude immediately shifts your focus from what could go wrong to what is already right. It brings you into Love.
2. Breathe Deeply and Ground Yourself
Take a few deep, intentional breaths. Inhale for a count of four, hold for a count of four, and exhale for a count of six. This breathing pattern helps calm your nervous system, sending signals to your brain that it’s safe to relax. As you breathe, feel your body grounded in the present moment.
3. Set an Intention for the Day
Ask yourself, What is my intention today? Set an intention rooted in love. It could be as simple as, I choose to move through the day with patience. Setting an intention plants a seed in your mind, steering your thoughts toward love even before the day’s challenges arise.
4. Acknowledge and Release Fears
Take a moment to mentally scan through any fears or anxieties you woke up with. Instead of pushing them aside or trying to ignore them, acknowledge them. Write them down if it helps. Once acknowledged, say out loud or to yourself, I release these fears. I trust that everything is unfolding for my highest good.
5. Light a Lamp, Candle or Incense
Just like the act of lighting a lamp or incense in spiritual traditions, you can create a ritual that symbolizes illuminating love and driving out fear. As you light the candle, imagine it as a beacon of love that shines through your entire day, dispelling any shadows of doubt or fear.
6. Visualize Your Day with Love
Before you step into the busyness of the day, close your eyes and visualize yourself moving through your day with love as your guide. Picture yourself completing your tasks confidently, interacting with others warmly, and overcoming challenges with grace. By visualizing success and calm, you prime your brain to seek out those experiences.
7. Move Your Body
Whether it’s stretching, yoga, or a short walk, getting your body moving helps release any stagnant energy. As you move, mentally affirm to yourself: I am safe. I am capable. I am choosing love today. This movement not only strengthens your body but also reinforces the mindset shift from fear to love.
Do We Fear Love?
Here’s another paradox: many of us are afraid of love, not just fear itself. When we’re flooded with love, like during moments of joy or peace, we often don’t know how to receive it fully. We get scared, thinking, This is too good. When will the other shoe drop?
It’s like when someone uses marijuana and suddenly gets the munchies — it’s not just because they’re hungry, it’s because they’re afraid of the overwhelming sense of peace. There’s so much love that it becomes almost intimidating. So they distract themselves with food.
We fear love because we often confuse it with attachment, expectation, or vulnerability. We don’t fully understand that love isn’t just about connecting with others; it’s begins with being fully present with ourselves.
Love is this moment, right now, where you’re reading these words, hearing the sounds around you, feeling your body in space. It’s not grand or expansive all the time. Sometimes, it’s as simple as being here, being aware, being alive.
The Practice of Choosing Love
Rewiring the brain to choose love over fear is a daily practice. It requires you to face your fears, acknowledge them, and then consciously choose a path rooted in trust. It’s not easy. However, the more you practice, the more natural it becomes. And with a mindful morning routine, you can start each day with love as our foundation.
So as you move through today, ask yourself: Am I choosing fear, or am I choosing love? Each moment gives you another chance to shift toward love, to trust in the unfolding of your life, and to embrace the peace that comes with knowing that everything (even the challenges) is happening for your highest good.
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