Control Your Inner Fido

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The Brain on Fear – Tackle Your Fears

Brain Palace Survival

The primary function of the brain is to ensure survival of the host…you.

Fido, the brain’s attentive guard puppy is determined, to the best of its ability, to get you through whatever unsafe situation arises.

Cognition

From infancy, parents, community, tradition, religion, science, ists and isms and politicians, our brains constantly acquire cognition:

knowledge and understanding through learning, experience

input from the senses:

Sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch

Fear/ Phobia

Fears and phobias are controlled through the process of the accumulation of life experiences and memories associated with the fear.

Fido, Memory Fetcher

Fido is always on alert, ready to instantly fetch memories, gather thoughts, revisit experiences…

when a fear is strong…it’s kitchen sink time.

Pay Attention, Listen to your thoughts:

Imagine:

You are eating a dry peanut butter cracker
- Did Fido retrieve thoughts of refreshing liquid beverages?
awakened by a bump in the night
- Did Fido remind you to fold laundry…not!
The word:Glossophobia
- Is your guard PUPPY perplexed by this funny, weird word?
You are selected to speak…in public
- Did your Fido just dig up a huge pile of dirty old bones?

Let’s Roll those Dirty Old Bones…

Examine FEAR Words

Oh Noooooooo!
I’m not smart enough I’m not educated enough
I’m not qualified
I have no degree – authority
I’m not allowed – Insensitive
I’m not capable – above pay scale
Don’t rock the cradle
Where is my lucky coin, shoes, socks

Examine FEAR Feelings

I will lose friends,
Unworthy
I will lose approval,
Social ostracizism
I will create animosity,
Betray trust
I have unpopular opinions,
Shame
I will face ridicule, insecurity
I will endure humiliation
My worst nightmare will come true!
I will reveal weakness
Judged weak
Nom, Nom, Nom…where’s my security blanket?

Baby Steps to Mental Freedom

Fear can be rational or appropriate
Fear can be irrational or inappropriate – a phobia ( FO-bee-uh)
Fear ensures survival and status quo

Glossophobia (Gloss-o-FO-bee-uh)

Glossophobia, a fear of public speaking is a common type of social phobia, (social anxiety disorder). Glossophobics feel excessive self-consciousness, fear humiliation in social situations where they may be embarrassed or judged in front of others.

How we react to fear usually sets hold early in infancy and childhood.

Youngsters have limited knowledge and immature coping skills. Severity of trauma can magnify where the proverbial monster in the closet is born.

What childhood Phobia(s) have you permanently, successfully expunged?

How do you handle or conquer irrational fear?

jokes for meetings

Coping tips and skills to develop

Humor:
Introspection:
Education:
Took the Plunge:
Professional help
Do it Yourself psychology (self-help books/tapes/videos)
Visualization: (through Adult Eyes)
Confrontation / Acceptance:

Remember, there are no strangers in Toastmasters, only friends you haven’t met.

References

Questions to Spark Conversations with Your Brain

Face your fears

If Public Speaking was a wild animal?
Which animal. How would you tame it?

Reward Yourself

If Public Speaking was bitter chocolate
How much sugar would you need to make it tasty?

Examine the evidence

If Public Speaking was laid out on a slab.
How would you conduct the autopsy?

Imagine the worst

Public Speaking has dragged you to the top of the Empire State Building, like King Kong,
What steps would you take to save yourself?

Make a Trade-In

If you could cure Glossophobia by trading it in for a more reasonable, unreasonable fear, which phobia would you choose?

Tonitrophobia, Fear of thunder
Venustraphobia, Fear of beautiful women
Selenophobia, Fear of the moon
Autophobia, Fear of being alone
Podophobia Fear of feet

Courage VS Security
You find a magic sword impaled into a boulder.
Public Speaking is required to loosen the sword.
How do you convince the stone that you are the right Public Speaker?

Transform Fear Into Excitement
Public Speaking is an amusement park ride.
Describe your ride: examples

Ferris Wheel,
Bumper car,
Carousel,
Scrambler,
River Rapids,
Log Ride,
Triple-Threat-Xtreme-Screamer roller coaster…

Helpful sites about phobias and irrational-fears and how to control feelings of fear.

About Post Author

pkelley

The Theory of Pat is a gradual process which will expand as we work out the mysteries of our past, present and future. We chose to share as we learn and practice how to navigate our own impulsive and irrational thoughts so we may help others better defend against those who work to exploit weakness.

[email protected]

https://theoryofpat.com