11/15/2025
Over the past 40+ days of the government shutdown, the collective fear has been loud.
But here’s the thing…
Not all fear roars.
Some of it hides in the corners, whispering where you barely notice it.
This week I asked myself one simple question:
“What am I afraid of?”
The quiet answer surprised me.
My car breaking down.
Really? That? 😂
As I sat with it, I immediately knew where it came from — all the fear-based extended warranty ads targeting older cars. I had absorbed it without realizing it.
So I visited that fear.
Walked around inside it for a minute.
And then I looked for the next emotion up the scale — something in the range of insecurity, guilt, or unworthiness.
What bubbled up made me laugh:
“Look at you, Gwen… you bought into the fear.”
Guilty!
That tiny shift — from fear to a gentle, humorous guilt — lifted the heaviness.
A Gentle Practice for This Week
Ask yourself:
“What am I afraid of?”
Let the quietest answer come forward.
You might be surprised where it leads.
Then, without forcing anything, look for the next emotion up.
Is it insecurity?
Unworthiness?
Guilt?
Even the tiniest upward click counts.
Follow along as I move up the Emotional Guidance Scale. Visit my profile to get my weekly insights and illuminations.
