Expand What is Known

“We all have a fear of the unknown; what one does with that fear will make all the difference in the world.” Lillian Russell

As I think about my upcoming trip to Italy, I feel an overwhelming sense of excitement. But, I’d be doing all those anxiety prone friends of mine a disservice if I didn’t also acknowledge the worries that have been racing through my head as I prepare for my journey. So much could go wrong. Our flight could be delayed, throwing off the connection for our next flight and leaving us stranded in the Zurich airport overnight. Our luggage could get lost, leaving me with nothing to wear for a few days (and extra anxiety around where all my stuff is!). I could get lost while in Rome, unable to find Daniel while alone in a massive city of people who don’t speak English. These are just a few of the concerns that have popped up for me over the last week or so. 

We all worry now and again, though some of us certainly worry more than others. The issue I have with my own anxiety is its ability to pull me out of a perfectly good moment and into a self-created catastrophe that doesn’t actually exist. While I am in Italy, I want to be in Italy – not in some corner of my mind trying to “out think” non-existent problems. 

I have a tendency to fear the unknown, and resist stepping into it. After all, what I know may not be amazing, but at least I know it. It is comfortable. The unknown, in contrast, fills me with worries of “what-ifs”. And yet, everything I have been afraid of has worked out in one way or another. I have a 100% success rate with rising to the challenges that have risen out of the unknown. I was afraid to move to Arizona after college, and to begin my time serving for Teach for America. Yet, it was in Arizona that I met a dear friend of mine. That same friend encouraged me to approach Daniel one fateful day. That same friend connected me with the current organization that I work for. If I hadn’t gone to Phoenix, I might not ever have met that friend, and he has certainly made a difference. I was afraid to quit my job and travel for a year. But, when I did, I started my blog, which has become a passion project for me. Quitting my job opened my eyes to other career opportunities, helping me to better understand what I wanted to pursue next. If I’d let that fear stop me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Fear has a way of keeping us stagnant. I don’t want to be stagnant. 

I have to actively choose to embrace the fear and the worry, to work with it, not to let it keep me stagnant. In the case of my upcoming trip, I am choosing to step into the unknown of all that could happen while on our travels. I am not letting this hold me back. There are a few things that I am doing to help me navigate my fear and worry, so as to not get stuck in them. 

Identify exactly what it is that I am afraid of ~ 

As I wrote out all that could potentially go wrong regarding this upcoming trip to Italy, I realized just how manageable my concerns were. A night in Zurich, Switzerland? Just an opportunity to explore somewhere new! I have always wanted to visit Switzerland. Lost luggage? Well, thank goodness my Chase Credit Card has insurance to cover that. Getting lost in a city? I have a phone and I am resourceful. 

When I identify and write down my fears, they become smaller. 

Asking myself, what is the worst case scenario? ~

When I follow a worry thread all the way down to the end and identify how I will handle this potential catastrophe, I am able to see that I will be okay. There is always a solution (though some solutions are certainly more complex than others). Afraid you will miss a flight? Remember, you can book a new one! Afraid to lose your luggage? Go buy yourself an air-tag so you can keep an eye on your luggage location. Afraid of getting lost? Communicate your whereabouts and stick together.

Reminding myself just how capable that I am helps me to let go of those worries a bit. 

Envisioning the best case scenario and preparing for that ~

What do I want to have happen? When I ask myself this and paint a vivid picture in mind of exactly how I’d like things to unfold, I am actually creating new energy around me. Instead of fear, I create a sense of peace and gratitude. I am showing up differently, and as a result this has an influence on my outside circumstances. Why? Because when I can imagine the good, I can prepare for the good and set myself up to receive it. 

Visualizing my ideal situation calms me and allows me to be more present for my travels. 

Set an intention to be present ~

Fear of the unknown is a fear of the future. What could happen, not what is happening. Anxiety stems from living in the what-ifs, not the what-is. Just by bringing myself back to what is happening right now, I can alleviate so much unneeded suffering and instead enjoy where I am.

Again and again I find myself actively resisting what it is that I do not yet know. I can get swept away in all that could go wrong, opposed to being open to all that is going right. 

It is a work in progress. 

This time around, I am stepping into the fear and using the above strategies to support me as I do. 
And you, what are you afraid of? What unknown are you resisting in your own life? How might exploring this fear lead you to growth?  After all, “Going into the unknown is how you expand what is known.” Julien Smith