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Pulling back the curtain
By Lee Ann | February 7, 2009
Why should you trust what I say about motivation, inspiration, Law of Attraction? I agree that you shouldn’t trust me unless I share why I’m qualified to talk about this stuff.
That’s why I’m pulling back the curtain. Come back with me to when I was 16 years old. Remember when you were 15? Life was good right? There were after school parties, weekend parties, you got your drivers license and the world was fresh, fun and exciting.
That was your reality - it wasn’t mine. My parents had recently divorced and I had an emotional meltdown and became agoraphobic. That big word means that I was scared to leave my house - terrified. I would have a panic attack within ten minutes of going to school. I was riddled with self-doubt and constant fear. The worst thing was that I didn’t understand where the fear was coming from, so it seemed like I couldn’t ever move past it. I felt hopeless. At 16!!
Just 3 short years later, not only was I able to leave my home - but I was on a plane headed to Israel - by myself!
What happened?
I changed what I was focusing on. When I was trapped in my house, afraid I was going to have a panic attack - then would go to school - so focused on not having a panic attack - what happened? I had a panic attack. Of course, because what you focus on expands.
So, I had to learn to think that I was going to go to school and have a great day. I had to focus on the fact that I had lived for 15 years without having panic attacks - so I had the ability to not have panic attacks. I focused on my past experience of being in school and enjoying the experience. And, then I had to do it. I had to go to school, not think about panic attacks and it was a process. I would go to school - be able to stay for one hour, then I might get scared and have to leave. But, the next day, I would do it again - and be able to stay a bit longer. It wasn’t long before I had build up enough confidence that I could go to school and not have to try to consciously think positive - it just came naturally.
And, what happened to the agoraphobia, what happened to those panic attacks? When I taught myself that they had no power over me - they just vanished. And, at the age of 19 I was boarding a plane - traveling alone - to spend six weeks in Israel.
I struggled with sharing this, but I realize that I’m not the only person on the planet who suffered from panic attacks. And, if my sharing that can help just one person get over their panic attacks - it’s worth any discomfort I may feel.
BTW, I still feel fear - that’s natural. It’s how I deal with it that’s very different.
Remember that you can overcome any fear or panic - if I can do it - so can you.
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Topics: beliefs, inspiration |