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Fear and Fatigue
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What are they?
Fear is the emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain.
Fear drives decisions and sounds likes this….
“Hurry up. You’re behind. Other people already figured this out. You should know this by now.”
Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness which is distinct from weakness, and has a gradual onset. Unlike weakness, fatigue can be alleviated by periods of rest.
Fatigue in our society is actually rewarded and driven by the belief that sleep and rest are wasteful. The belief is to value only those things that are ‘productive and revenue generating’.
What are the consequences?
- Over working because of the constant thought and belief that you are behind and there is not enough in the world
- Over functioning because “If I don’t do it, nobody else will”
- Neglecting self-maintenance such as sleep, healthful eating, down time, taking sick days
- Not being present because you are thinking about the regrets of the past or the wreckage of your future.
What’s the solution?
Change your mental framework.
A mental framework is an explanation for how something works in the real world. It is the basis for your thoughts and actions.
The framework is the story you tell yourself. All the stories you tell yourself has a bunch of hidden assumptions.
Your thoughts and beliefs create your experiences and when you change your thoughts and beliefs you profoundly change your life.
Read the following two descriptions of mental frameworks and identify which one resonates with you:
1 – There is a finite amount in the world and I have to get it now.
2 – Because I believe in an abundant and friendly universe, I practice mindful success every day.
These are two mental frameworks – the story you tell yourself – and they impact your decision making. One will allow you to rest and identify your fears about making the wrong decisions. The other will drive you relentlessly.
Here’s a clue to help you identify your mental framework.
When you have down time, do you feel uncomfortable, not know what to do, or feel undeserving or selfish? This is an example of the first mental framework.
Results of changing your mental framework.
» Increased awareness of the thoughts and beliefs that drive your decisions
» Increased objectivity when looking at a problem
» Lowered amounts of second guessing your decisions
» Reduced harm to yourself and others
» Pressure relief from making the ‘right’ decision
