First, it makes sense that you might have these fears. And yet the fact that you ask the question tells me that you know it doesn’t have to be this way — at least not all the time. There is a lot of uncertainty and unforeseen change at this time and uncertainty and change often breed fear. Fear can make us collapse, deny, control or panic. It can make us feel helpless. But we don’t have to feel helpless. We can empower ourselves by choosing to take some full and deep breaths and connecting to the ground. When we are afraid we tend to hold our breath — all the energy moves up into our heads where our thoughts – often distorted — run wild. When the energy goes up we can feel disconnected from the ground that supports us. This has the effect of making us feel more afraid. So find ways to breathe and to ground.

You can also empower yourself by tracking and expressing the feeling in your body. Observe how you feel in your body and in your emotions. Move, make sound, stomp your feet, scream out “I don’t like this!” Let the energy move. When we feel fear we have a tendency to hold on tight or freeze. Movement allows for feeling and feeling can allow for greater understanding or awareness, which can help us come to greater acceptance of what is.

You can empower yourself by getting curious about uncertainty and change. What is it that feels so doomsday and scary about change? Get to know your relationship with change and uncertainty. What do you imagine it to mean? If uncertainty and change were a character in a story how would you describe it? Is it devilish? Is it here to trick you? Is it a messenger with an important message? Is it a gift? Get creative about it.

Lastly, see if you can become a compassionate observer of the part of you that has the doomsday fears. Maybe ask it some questions. Ask it “what are you so afraid of?” “What is it about what’s going on that scares you so?” “Is there any other possibility here?” Treat that part of you like you would any scared child. Be real and reassuring.

Aimee Falchuk