Deconstructing Fear
Getting out from under it can be done
By Dominique Larocque
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that
we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness
that most frightens us.”
–Marianne Williamson
SOMEONE got the hint: “What do you believe the
asked me how answer is?”
I could help a I had a huge resistance to the
super-fit and workshop’s core message that every
highly skilled belief we hold causes us to create (or
young ski attract) the experiences which support
racer be less those beliefs. The wisdom I acquired
tentative that weekend has since allowed me to
during deconstruct and reconstruct my core
competitions. belief system. This allowed me to create
This question my life instead of having my life created
provoked another by external factors perceived by myself as
in my mind: “What unchangeable. Change like beauty, grace,
would you do if you calm, flow, comes from within.
knew you could not Is it possible for our young skier to
fail?” release the thought processes (his beliefs
Fear of failure, like fear about his performing self) that kept
of success, can have a him from giving his 100 per cent? The
paralyzing effect on peak question is not so much whether it can
performance. Fear is a mental be done, but why is it so difficult to do so.
construct that we build in our We need to find out what catalytic force
heads through time. Gaining freedom can set this action in motion.
from the grip of fear can take years. The human potential movement of the
Some individuals never do transcend ’60’s is experiencing a huge rebirth at the
the fear, pain or hurts of past trauma present. It held that becoming aware of
trapped in their memory. A sports trauma our core beliefs and personal philosophy
can be anything – falling from a bike (I call it “deep ecology”) ingrained in us
in childhood, suffering ridicule after a through socialization is the start line of
spectacular crash or a goofy mishap. one’s journey. This process is challenging
Sport psychologists and coaches often but necessary to engage in a life that
have to work with athletes who seem is more beneficial to the health of the
unable to break the mindset or heal the whole person and planet.
emotional scar that keeps athletes stuck My ABC of success remains to this day
in their game or makes them repeat the Attitude, Belief and Commitment. With
same patterns. They build confidence a positive attitude, a competitive athlete
and mental toughness through can unearth her fears, neutralize their
progressive training and competing venom, and go on to win, on the field
2
which embraces visualization, breathing and in life itself. ~OO
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tt
work and reframing.
~ Dominique Larocque is a Gestalt coach and
s
c
o
In my late 20s, I participated in
t
o- sport psychology consultant. She leads eco-
a weekend workshop shaped by
mountain bike summer camps for women,
something called the Avatar program. children and youth at her Creative Wheel
t
ockpho
Centre in Val-des-Monts. She’s at
y
: is Participants were asked, “Which comes
www.creativewheel.ca.
t
o b first, belief or experience?” Then we
pho
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca OTTAWA magazine summer/fall 2009 15
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