It's Just Another Magic Monday! What Does Terror Teach Us?

Words of Manic Monday by The Bangles and modified by Susan Shaner. Musician: Dan Brodax.

Where can you find the magic at work this week?

This week I invite you to find the magic in an emotion that many people run from - terror.Once we commit to a lofty goal or new relationship, and the reality of what it will take to achieve success sinks in, we experience excitement at it's best, or stress, fear, panic or terror at it's worst.

Terror comes from being out of your comfort zone - big time. It comes from a feeling of being vulnerable or a perception of not being safe. Our primitive brain is wired for survival and when we perceive a threat, we go into protect mode - which is why our negative mind is so powerful. It becomes not just a mental thing - but physiological: a racing heartbeat and sweaty or cold and clammy palms, or perhaps some sleepless nights. The more terror you feel, the more you are stretching. The more you stretch, the more risk and potential for failure - or unbridled success. Terror often appears when you are on the verge of a breakthrough.

You may think "terror" is too dramatic. Sometimes at work we can get in the left brain analytical mode and try and navigate matters from the neck up only. Managing your personal energy means being honest with what you are really experiencing. When we ignore our body's cues we are leaving out important information that can impede our progress.

Think of a specific situation: Has your boss given you a visible assignment that you are not sure you can pull off? Maybe you are taking a risk with a new product or market and your reputation is on the line. Or perhaps you have taken a huge risk - financially, emotionally or physically.

I invite you this week to notice what is going on beneath the surface of what you present to people. How are you holding all that is on your plate? What sensations show up in your body? What emotions are you experiencing? Fear? Terror? What is the terror about? The benefit of naming it is that you can channel that energy more constructively for a clearer, more direct pathway forward.

This week's reflection: What do you notice about your body's cues this week? How can you use the energy of terror in constructive ways?