Knowing Fear Intimately

Knowing Fear Intimately
Photo by Maria Fernanda Pissioli / Unsplash

Blue shimmery rectangles of water. Pools frightened B, sprinklers did too. 7-year old B, wears a pink polka-dotted swimsuit and walked to the steps of the swimming pool. B tries to ignore her mother in the stands. A kind woman approaches B from the water and holds her hands out. Hands that reach out to support you can seem like claws when confronting situations that are colored by fear.

B's instructor allows her the space to explore what water feels like, B dangles her feet in the water. Two weeks in, B stands, a foot in, knee-deep in water and terrified at the prospect of wading any further.

“Underwater, everything is quieter”, B describes to her mother, 4 months from when she first began her classes. B learnt how to swim that year, she gathered the courage to look up at her beaming mother in the stands and held space for her own fear.

How, you may ask, does B remember this experience so vividly? Fear colors our experiences, having had the support to work through fear allows us to reclaim agency, changing how we see ourselves.

‘Please understand that the only reason I can speak so authoritatively about fear is that I know it so intimately’
Elizabeth Gilbert

May we hold space for our fear and allow ourselves to ask for support.

Manah Wellness is an employee engagement and wellbeing brand that provides innovative tools and professional support to businesses of all sizes. Founded by wellbeing experts and seasoned entrepreneurs, the company has an experienced team of psychologists and professionals who support individuals and teams with preventive, proactive, and personalized solutions for emotional and mental health, wellness, and professional growth. Manah empowers employees to track, assess, and understand their wellbeing, and how it changes over time. It also enables leaders to make more informed decisions with aggregated and anonymous data.

Manah has supported employees at more than 50 organizations with high levels of employee engagement, and positive feedback from employees on their improved wellbeing. Whether your goal is to lend wellness support to specific team members or to build a company culture that promotes emotional well-being, Manah Wellness has the virtual tools and expertise to support your journey. Get in touch with our team of qualified mental health professionals to discuss your organizational goals, and be part of a growing workplace wellbeing community with Manah."

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