Last week I heard someone say, “Fear is what you feed it.” It wasn’t the first time I’d heard it, but for some reason this time the adage activated my little, blog-writing mind. I began thinking about all the fears I have been feeding lately. Holiday planning pressures, parenting failures, scheduling screw-ups, physical fitness, and financial flops were just a few of my starving stressors.

To assuage my anxious appetite, I planned to attend a Stretch and Flex class at the gym. It’s a yoga-inspired class that is calming and physically challenging all at once.

I was stoked.

Unfortunately, I was also at the gym at the WRONG time.

When I arrived, I saw the yoga mats being rolled up and stationary bikes being rolled out. What!?! Stretch and Flex was the 5:00 a.m. class. I had just showed up for the 5:50 a.m. spin class.

This did not look relaxing. This looked like I was going to have to get on a bike.
(I have never been much of a bike rider and the idea of a spin class frightened me.)

My friend Kristen, the class instructor, was elated to see me and rushed to adjust MY bike seat to the correct height and help shove my feet in the strap, cage-looking contraptions on the pedals.
(What if I fell off? I was going to be hung up in a stationary bike. This was going to be rough.) Kristen kindly showed me where to put my water bottle and placed a hand weight on my handlebars. Apparently, I was ready for spin class.

My anxiety was ravenous at this point. It was full-on FOMM (Fear of Making a Mistake)!

Fortunately, Kristen is a terrific instructor, and I was riding with three of my favorite gym gal pals. They were supportive and assured me that it was going to be a fast and fun class. I would not fall off!

I know you are thinking, “What’s the big deal about riding a bike that doesn’t go anywhere?” Well, it’s probably not a big deal for you, but I bet there is something in your life right now that you have been serving some seriously big helpings of trepidation.

Whatever it is that has you forking in the fear, I hope you will let someone help the way Kristen guided and supported me. Hopefully, you have a biker gang full of friends like mine that will diminish the dread and help sustain your calm when you feel like those fears are consuming you.

If you don’t have an instructor or a biker gang, I encourage you to find someone or a group of someones who can help you digest your distress and get those crazy cravings under control. Don’t feed the fears.

Your Intentergy challenge here is to be stingy with whatever has you worked up. Don’t nourish your nervousness. If something stressful craves your attention, don’t give it that satisfaction. Take a deep breath. Fill your mind with positive affirmations about your appetite for success, love, relaxation, or health. Avoid binging on the bad. Don’t feed the fears.

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. What fear are you NOT going to feed this week? I’m an honorary biker babe in your gang. We’ve got this!

P.P.S. I recommend the Spin Class with Kristen, but be aware, the scary, strap, cage-looking contraptions on the pedals really do help, and the class goes really fast.