Into the Fear

Go into the Fear.  I was watching the documentary for Metallica a few years back called “Some Kind of Monster.”  Their coach, Phil, made it a point to go into the fear.  He said when you come up against a Fear response, it is the time to into the Fear.  On the other side of this Fear there will be some sort of Genius there.  

From a physiological perspective, our Amygdala, or the Lizard Brain, hijacks the neocortex during the Fear response, and takes over our actions until the Fear is gone.  Thus, the higher level thinking brain, the neocortex, cannot function correctly until the Lizard is in a relaxed state.  Thus, now you have the entire physiological reason for meditation!   

What is the Fear response?  It is very simple.  The Lizard chooses from three responses: (1) Fight, (2) Flight, (3) Freeze.  If you are to take full advantage of the higher level thinking neocortex in all of its fullness, you must be able to calm down and relax the Lizard Brain.  

As Phil, the coach, says above, one way is to go into the Fear, and on the other side of Fear is the Genius.  Another method is to feed the Lizard what it needs.  What does the Lizard need to feel calm?  A calm image.  Think of what relaxes you when you are free from Fear.  It could be a beach, a flowing stream, a river, a blue sky with bright clouds, a meadow with a gentle breeze blowing across a fruited plain.  Whatever it is, create the image within your mind until you are there - until the Lizard thinks that it is there in this scene. 

This will lower the frequency of your brain waves to the point where the neocortex can think on a higher level.  It is the same effect as meditation or hypnosis, or related mindful practices.

So, when you Fear, understand it is the animalistic Lizard brain acting as though you are still in the jungle.  You are not!  Thus, go into the Fear!  Find the genius on the other side!