Procrastination
Not taking action and procrastination are often due to fear. Fear acts as a protective mechanism, but it can also inhibit growth, decision-making, and opportunities.
Fear
Fear is a State of Mind
Fear is within
"Fear, like shadows, is born within and grows in darkness. But when the light of awareness shines upon it, it dissolves, revealing that its power was always ours to control." - Gpt4
“We are more often frightened than hurt; And we suffer more in imagination than in reality.” - Seneca
You have the power to evict the fear out of your mind.
Notes
Fear is a state of mind. In fear we prioritize immediate reactions over deliberate thought.
Fear is a state of mind. Scientifically, it is a response triggered by neural circuits in the brain. When a potential danger is perceived, the amygdala signals other parts of the brain, like the hypothalamus, to activate the body's "fight or flight" response. This releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, heightening alertness and preparing the body to react.
At the neural level, fear arises from patterns of electrical activity and neurotransmitter release in specific circuits. For instance, sensory inputs processed by the thalamus and prefrontal cortex inform the amygdala whether a threat is real, while the hippocampus provides context based on past experiences. These rapid exchanges of information shape how neurons fire, encoding the emotion of fear and its associated physical sensations.
Fear, in this sense, is both a protective mechanism and a neural process, designed to ensure survival by prioritizing immediate reactions over deliberate thought.
How to get out of Fear
Reframe your way of thinking
Reframe your way of thinking, use cognitive distancing to see the same situation from a different view point.
Such as: Reframe thoughts as hypotheses
Reframe thoughts as hypotheses: Instead of treating a thought as a fact, you can treat it as a hypothesis that can be tested or questioned. For example, instead of thinking,
"I'm going to fail,"
you could think
"I have the thought that I might fail."
Now you can:
- Distance yourself from that thought.
- Question the thought.
Or Use the third-person perspective
Use the third-person perspective: Try to look at your situation as if you were an outside observer. This can help you view your thoughts and emotions more objectively.
Visualize your thoughts
Visualize your thoughts: Imagine your thoughts as objects floating by on a stream, or as words written on leaves that are drifting away in the wind. This can help you see your thoughts as transient and separate from yourself.
Use visual submodalities
The visualization of thoughts advise is akin to whats called visual submodalities manipulation from NLP: Neuro Linguistic Programming.
Hence, consider also consider manipulating your fears using visual submodalities to lessen the degree of your fears affecting you.
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Question yourself in why NOT fashion
- Why you are not afraid?
- Why were you afraid? What made you overcome your fear?
- What steps have you taken mentally to move past it?
Worst case scenario tactic
Worst case scenario tactic
You can also use worst case scenario tactic. Imagine the worst case scenario. While imaging worst case and coping with it all of a sudden you realize the problem that you feared is not as large you have imagined.
In the end zoom out. Memento Mori (Remember That you will Die), what you fear now will pass.
Fear Increases Pain
It’s what we feel when we think we’re in danger. - Book: The Way Out
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Why Fear Stops Action
Fear of Failure
Fear of making mistakes or not succeeding can prevent someone from trying in the first place.
Fear of Judgment
Worrying about how others will perceive your actions or potential failure can be paralyzing.
Refer: worry and related notes.
Fear of the Unknown/Fear of Change
Uncertainty about outcomes makes inaction feel safer than risking an unfavorable result.
Comfort with the status quo, even if it’s suboptimal, can make stepping into the unknown intimidating.
“I think it’s generally human nature to overestimate risk and underestimate opportunity The risks are probably not as big as you perceive and the opportunities may be bigger than you perceive.” - Jeff-Bezos
Perfectionism
A belief that only perfect action is worth taking can lead to procrastination or avoidance.
Trauma or Past Experiences
Previous negative outcomes can reinforce avoidance behavior.