Unraveling Fears: How Our Story-Making Mind Amplifies Anxiety

Photo: Old bunkhouse door - room #7. Ovando, Montana (2017). Copyright SJPhotography

Unraveling Fears: How Our Story-Making Mind Amplifies Anxiety

In the labyrinthine corridors of our consciousness, a remarkable phenomenon unfolds daily - the art of storytelling. Stories, whether they manifest as whispered doubts, silent narratives, or loud self-talk, weave the fabric of our perceptions, emotions, and ultimately, our reality. Today we delve into the profound impact of our "story-making mind" and how it shapes our understanding of fear, self-blame, and the tumultuous challenges life throws our way. As we journey through the intriguing landscape of our inner narratives, discovering the transformative potential that lies within our own stories we find where we double down on scaring ourselves and creating havoc from the inside out.

If I were in a counseling group I might begin by saying, “Hi, my name is Sunny, and I needlessly scare myself and am in cahoots with those elements in life that invoke fear, anxiety, pain, and dread.” You might think “Why would you be in cahoots with or be to blame for how others have negatively impacted your life, your sanity and peace of mind, and your ability to feel safe and calm in your world?” The truth is that in scary moments when we’re convinced that our very existence is threatened by an external force, we add to our own terror by creating predictions, frightening outcomes, and other terrifying stories that scare us even more.

The truth is a hard pill to swallow. In my attempts to place blame on external factors for my emotional turmoil, or stand indignantly at how another has changed my peaceful landscape into a violent, or earth-quaking world – I’ve come to realize my own significant role in this turmoil. I’ve recognized how I contribute to my own pain, suffering, fear, and distress when confronted with unsettling conflicts and challenges. Ugh!