Fighting With Fear? Embrace Doubt With The Help Of The Chakras
Have you ever taken part in something that has left you feeling excited and expansive? Whether it’s a workshop or a retreat, you leave with clarity of vision and with a strong belief in yourself.
Yet after a few days the high of inspiration starts to settle down. Inviting cracks of self-doubt to softly appear. Until one day you wake up trembling, convinced that this dream is impossible. Creative flow trapped in a box of fear.
What was I thinking? I said to myself as I woke fatigued and sluggish from a restless sleep. Only days after returning from an 8-day Shamanic Practitioner training the reality of my vision started to feel slightly uncomfortable. The fear of being judged, the fear of failure and the fear of losing credibility was sitting heavily in my heart, chest and throat. My gut grumbling but unable to eat…imposter syndrome settling in.
Through the many conversations I’ve had with people across all walks of life, I’m not alone in my experience with imposter syndrome. It’s especially prevalent in high-achieving individuals who frequently downplay their achievements. Psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes developed the concept, originally termed “imposter phenomenon,” in their 1978 founding study, which focused on high achieving women.
Imposter Syndrome can be loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud, something I regularly see amongst multi-passionate people like myself. It typically shows up when we take on new roles or responsibilities and unfortunately we can end up sabotaging our success.
Feeling Unsure Shouldn’t Make You An Imposter
Personally I dislike the term “imposter syndrome” as it feels like a very heavy load to bear. Dragging me down into the dungeons of despair, I can feel the shackles of fear becoming tighter and tighter.
Instead, a healthy dose of doubt can be liberating. In her book Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-higher Manual, Ajayi Jones’ message to us all is clear: Being afraid is okay, but letting fear dictate the rules is not “Fear isn’t something that you really overcome or grow out of” states Kelsey Alpaio in her Harvard Business Review article How to Stop Letting Our fears Run the Show. Instead it can be an approach for how we navigate life.
Fear is God’s way of making sure we’re not being utterly stupid and jumping off mountains without parachutes.
- Ajayi Jones, Luvvie
Fear and doubt are powerful emotions that can often feel paralysing, but they also serve as indicators of growth and potential. Not to be viewed as adversaries but rather as allies on the journey toward personal and professional development. They signify that you are venturing into new realms, where growth is possible, and the potential for success exists.
When you follow a new venture, whether it’s a career change, a creative project, or a personal challenge, these feelings of fear and doubt may surface as a natural response to stepping outside your comfort zone. Embracing them can lead to a more fulfilling and enriched life.
You're Not an Imposter: How do we stop letting fear run the show?
Imposter syndrome will keep your nervous system dysregulated, expanding the feeling of fear and doubt.
Here are a few research-backed strategies that have helped me, and others, overcome these destructive feelings. You can become a better version of yourself at work, and in life, by giving them a try.
Keep a positive mindset - Valerie Young’s TED talk Thinking Your Way out of Imposter Syndrome aims to empower individuals. By focusing on solutions rather than problems, we can reduce stress and anxiety, leading to improved emotional health. Ultimately a better night’s sleep!
Celebrate your wins - no matter how small, it’s vital for maintaining motivation and enhancing well-being. By taking the time to celebrate, you can sustain momentum and stay focused on your goals, making the journey more enjoyable and fulfilling. When you recognise your wins (regardless of their size), your brain releases the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine, which motivates you even more.
Reframe your self-talk - Whether we realise it or not, we talk to ourselves all the time. This self-talk is mostly unconscious, and it’s often highly negative, keeping us stuck in a loop of doubt. Identifying these negative internal voices and intentionally replacing them with a more positive, productive narrative can help get us out of this paralysis and move towards action.
In summary, impostor syndrome is a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud." This phenomenon can lead to stress, anxiety, and a reluctance to seek new opportunities, as individuals may feel unworthy of success. Addressing impostor syndrome often involves reframing negative thoughts, seeking support, and acknowledging one’s skills and accomplishments.
In my blog The Energetics of Creative Flow: Taming the Originality Monster I also offer ways on how to introduce practices into your life that will help create strategies for a more harmonious nervous system.
Embrace Fear and Doubt: The chakra system as a framework
Embracing fear and doubt is a powerful step towards personal growth and resilience. Instead of shying away from these emotions, acknowledge them as natural responses to uncertainty and challenges. Begin by reframing fear as a teacher rather than a foe; it often signals opportunities for growth or change. Take time to reflect on the sources of your doubts and consider how they might actually serve as motivation. By confronting fear head-on—whether through journaling, talking with trusted friends, or engaging in mindfulness practices—you can better understand its role in your life.
The chakra system, rooted in ancient Indian spirituality, offers a holistic framework for understanding and addressing the complex emotions of fear and doubt.
Each of the seven primary chakras corresponds to different aspects of our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. For instance, the root chakra, located at the base of the spine, is associated with feelings of safety and security; activating and balancing this energy centre can help ground individuals and alleviate fears stemming from insecurity. Similarly, the solar plexus chakra, linked to personal power and self-esteem, can empower individuals to confront their doubts and insecurities by bolstering their sense of self-worth.
The Lower Chakras - Root, Sacral and Solar Plexus - are connected to the material world and help you feel grounded, creative and safe. When clearing and strengthening these energy centres you become more aware of your body sensations so that you can follow your instincts and stop feeling lost, confused, or powerless.
The Middle Chakra - which is your Heart, possesses a unique form of intuitive intelligence. When clearing and strengthening this energy centre, you move energy out of a mental thinking state into a deep intuitive heart space. From here you can intuitively prioritise your passions and make sure that you’re doing things that you really enjoy.
The Upper Chakras - Throat, Third Eye and Crown - are connected to the metaphorical world and support the individual and collective awakening of consciousness. When clearing and strengthening these energy centres you declutter the monkey mind leading to clarity of expression, intuitive insight, and clear perspective.
Thankfully, an increasing amount of research is emerging that validates the existence of the chakras. In her influential book, Wheels of Life: A User’s Guide to the Chakra System Judith Anodea offers valuable insights into the chakra system. This harmonising practice that can aid in embracing and overcoming fear and doubt effectively.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, integrating fear and doubt into your journey can help develop courage, creativity, and a deeper sense of self-awareness. By engaging in practices such as meditation, breathwork, and energy healing targeted at specific chakras, you can cultivate resilience, transform negative emotions, and embody a stronger sense of confidence and inner peace.
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