What Is Fear and Why Does It Paralyze Us?

September 1, 2025

WHAT IS FEAR AND WHY DOES IT PARALYZE US?

Fear is not your enemy... it's an ancestral alarm system that protected our ancestors from predators. Today, that same system is activated by modern threats: failure, gossip, or making the wrong decision.
The paradox is that fear no longer saves you... it imprisons you.

"When I realized my brain was mistaking a sales call for a saber-toothed tiger, everything changed."

WHY DO WE FEEL IT? (THE ROOT OF TRAUMA)

" Fear is learned . In my case, every time I tried something as a child, my father would say, 'What do you know? You're lazy... you're no good at this.' Those words became etched like a broken record in my subconscious.

Today I know that fear wasn't mine... it was a toxic inheritance.
Scientifically, this is called 'emotional imprinting': past experiences that influence your present responses. The brain doesn't distinguish between real danger and a painful memory.

MY PERSONAL BATTLE

"A few years ago, when my partner betrayed me and I went bankrupt, fear told me: 'See? Your father was right... you're no good.' I locked myself away for months, smoking to drown out that voice.
But one day, as I watched my children play, I realized that if I didn't face that fear, they would inherit the same cycle .
That's when I created the ritual of 'burning the letter': I wrote down everything my father made me feel and released it into the fire. Not to forget, but to steal his power."

PRACTICAL EXERCISES TO TAME FEAR

A. THE MAP OF FEAR (IDENTIFY ORIGIN) :

Write : "What current situation is paralyzing me?" (e.g., public speaking, investing).
Connect : "When did I first feel this way?" (e.g., when my dad yelled at me for making a mistake).
Rename : "This fear isn't mine... it's [source name]'s."
Take away its power: "When you identify your origin, write a letter telling it everything you feel, do not limit yourself, write everything you feel and think at that moment. It will be the beginning of your liberation. Then simply burn it, while you burn or tear up that letter repeat "Today I decide to release the chains of my past, I choose my freedom, I choose my life"

WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR BRAIN WHEN YOU WRITE AND BURN :

1. WRITING = EMOTIONAL RELEASE :

By writing , you externalize the pain (you get it out of your mind and onto paper).
The prefrontal cortex is activated (logic), which reduces amygdala activity (fear/stress).
It's like defragmenting a hard drive : You organize the mental chaos.

2. BURNING = CLOSURE SYMBOLISM :

Fire is an ancient ritual of transformation : the old turns to ashes to make way for the new.
Your brain processes the act as an "end point" literal:
- Visual : You see the paper turn into smoke → your mind interprets it as disappearance of pain .
- Emotional : You release endorphins (relief) and reduce cortisol (stress).

3. THE NEUROLOGICAL "CLOSURE" :

Your brain needs clear signals to close cycles.
When burning , you say: "This is over. Now I can let go."
The reward system is activated : You feel relief similar to finishing a book or a goal.

B. MICROSCOPIC ACTION TECHNIQUE :

Purpose : To trick the brain into not triggering the alarm.
Example : If you're afraid of selling, send a message today without waiting for a response, without thinking too much about it, and just whatever message comes out. Many times we wait for everything to be perfect before we make the decision, unfortunately, that day never comes. Remember: Everything starts by taking one small step at a time.
Key phrase : "Today I'm not going to conquer fear... I'm just going to take a step so small it won't go unnoticed."

C. 4-7-8 BREATHING (CALM THE NERVOUS SYSTEM) :

Inhale for 4 seconds → Hold for 7 seconds → Exhale for 8 seconds.
Repeat 3 times when you feel panic coming on.

D. SUPPLEMENTS THAT HELP (BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE) :

Magnesium : Regulates cortisol (stress hormone).
Ashwagandha : Reduces generalized anxiety.
Potassium : Improves mental clarity for decision making.

"Fear is a wolf that you feed with your doubts. If you stop feeding it, it weakens. Today you have the power to starve your ghosts."

🚀

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