By: Rev. Jerry Chiles
As a child, what were you afraid of? Did you have monsters under your bed or in your closet? Did you have imaginary people who bothered you or did you have imaginary friends to comfort you? Did you have a fear of falling or were you a daredevil?
When did you develop healthy fears like not touching a hot stove? At what age did you realize what death was and develop a healthy reverence for it?
Did other children call you “Scaredy-Cat”? Who did you depend on to help you with your fears? Mom or Dad, brother or sister, Grandma or Grandpa, teacher or minister?
Kavita Tahilani, PhD, and John D. Herrington, PhD, two psychologists at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia suggest these helps for children.
- Acknowledge their fear and validate their feelings.
- Gather facts and information to educate your child.
- Commit to working on the problem together.
- Offer quiet support by sitting with your child or teen.
As an adult what preparations have you made to deal with fear? What patterns do you use when fear strikes? Here are a few to consider:
- Deep breathing
- Centering prayer
- Exercise
- Listening to music
- Withdrawing to a quiet place
- Assess the situation in my mind
Stephen Nedoroscik, the ‘Pommel Horse Guy’ who charmed the internet, won bronze at the 2024 Olympics. How did Stephen cope with his fear? On the morning of the team final, he solved a Rubik’s cube in under ten seconds, declaring it a “good omen” in a post to his Instagram. On that Saturday, Nedoroscik did it again. “Good omen pt. 2,” he wrote — then seven hours later, he won the bronze medal in the Paris Olympic Games Pommel Horse final.
While preparation is not a guarantee of success, it certainly gives you an edge. If you don’t believe me, ask Noah Lyes (fastest man in the world 2024 Olympics). He said, “Because of my mother’s inspiration, I know that I have a team support system that no matter what I go out for I have a safe place to go back to.”
These thoughts are from Rev. Jerry Chiles, one of our partners in ministry for the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Metroplex. He has served in various churches across the Southeast as an associate minister. Contact him for more information about how he can help you.