“Real power is, I don’t even want to use the word: ‘Fear.'”
Presidential Candidate Donald J. Trump
in an interview with Bill Woodward and Robert Costa, March 31, 2016
Fear is a derailer
‘Is fear real power?’ Certainly many will respond with a ‘Yes’ because it triggers a response and it drives action. But fear simply implies ‘power over others’. Fear relies on position and authority to trigger reactions in others. Generating this emotion does not allow space for others to generate creative thought and collaborative ideas. Fear does not feel safe.
Fear is a derailer. Rather than building on the collective strengths of individuals by fostering collaboration, it explodes, divides and destroys. In the David Hawkins’ book ‘Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Behaviour‘, the author outlines the levels of human consciousness on an exponential scale of 0 to 1000. Fear calibrates at a very low level of ‘100’. It is a level of weakness. Fear is below ‘200’, the point where energy transitions from a negative to a positive force.
Moving beyond fear
The challenge is to learn how to best move beyond fear, regardless of our position. If we are leading change, we are responsible for holding space to grow and boundaries to protect. We are responsible for creating a safe environment where people are not triggered with ‘fear’ and other distressing emotions. If we belong to the community, we have an opportunity to become more self-aware to notice and neutralize our reactions.
We are in a time of intense change and disruption. Fear resonates with people because our environment does not feel safe and the boundaries that protect are no longer clear. We are triggered to react. We have an opportunity to notice and neutralize these reactions using Logosynthesis® as a coaching model to support the work.
Our beliefs comprise of our perspective based on our experience. It is the frozen energy that is bound in beliefs that results in damaging relationships and trust. As we resolve the stuck, habitual, reactive patterns, we are better able to move beyond the level of ‘fear’ to emotions of ‘courage’, ‘willingness’ and ‘acceptance’. It takes dedication from each of us to do our own work first, so that we can create an environment that no longer resonates with ‘fear’. In this space, leaders no longer have ‘power over us’. We have collective power. Together, we can create an environment that supports others, to feel safe to resolve destructive, reactive patterns of behaviour.
Leading change
The shift happens when we learn to resolve the perceptions that trigger our reactions. When we are able to act rather than react. By learning how to identify, isolate and neutralize the triggers, we can remain calm and focused in the face of fear. In this manner, we can better embrace challenges to lead change for both health AND productivity.
Get started to develop leadership skills
Check out these resources to get you started. You can also watch the guided video below to experience what can shift. Firstly, grab a glass of water and find a quiet, uninterrupted place. Allow at least 30 minutes so that you are not rushed. And then, simply follow my guidance on the video. Energy shifts can feel subtle or intense, so take some time to notice what shifts over the next few days and weeks. Enjoy!