Fear Experiment

I've written about fear a few times, and I wanted to share a recent finding as it relates to fear.

I'm conducting an experiement, and instead of allowing fear to grip me, I become more aware if the initial feelings: the increased heart rate, the shortness of breath, the tensing of muscles. When I experience these sensations, I relax the tightened muscles, I force air deep down, past my lungs and into my diaphragm, and thus reclaim my breath and this automatically slows my beating heart and I am no longer fearful.

HOWEVER, as I sat in my parked car yesterday with all windows down (it was hotter than hot)with the keys out of the ignition, a huge dragonfly swooped over the top of the car. I had a clear view of it as it passed over the open sun roof top.

I remembered my experiment, as my body went into flight syndrome. I searched for my keys...I'd just had them, where'd they go? My not so little friend turned and thought it over as we stared at one another. I found the keys and pushed them into the ignition and prepared to start the car and roll the windows in one fell swoop. I relaxed my muscles, regained my breath and I remained calm. And it flew away.