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MINDFUL MOMENT
2005 11 27 - Feel Through The Fear

Have you ever gone looking for advice and come back more confused than when you started? For every person who gives you one suggestion, you'll probably find someone who'll give you the complete opposite suggestion.

Growing up, I remember being very confused by the fact that there were so many contradictory old adages or proverbs:

Look before you leap. / He who hesitates is lost.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. / Better safe than sorry.

So which is it? Should I be cautious or should I seize the day?

In our daily lives we are often faced with difficult choices. If we get caught up in "fully considering" each choice, we can end up at a stalemate - paralyzed by the fear that we might make the wrong choice.

I used to spend a great deal of time analyzing every decision. I would imagine each possibility and let it play out in my head to its logical conclusion. At the time, I thought this was a good way to make informed decisions. But I was wrong.

How can any of us make informed decisions about the future, when the future hasn't happened yet? Sure, we can look to the past to find patterns and then project those patterns onto the future. But that's what weather forecasting is all about, and how often is the weather forecast accurate?

I now believe that the way to overcome the paralyzing fear of making a bad decision is to feel your way through it. Why do I believe that? Simply because you can't FEEL in the future. Feelings are all about now. So when you are faced with a decision, think about each possible course of action and listen carefully to what your feelings tell you about it. Believe me, it can take a lot of practice, but the rewards are well worth it!

ENJOY NOW!
Patrick Mathieu
Expiry Date


Because fear is based on an imagined future, my focus on the present makes me fearless.
- from Patrick's Mortality Manifesto


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National Library of Canada ISSN 1708-0606

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