fear is the birth child of ignorance. a wise person shared that mantra with me and it will remain my security blanket. you cannot switch mantras and i am not giving up on this one. it has pushed me forward when i have regressed backwards. it has given me stamina to keep going. i agree when fear looks you right in the face all sensation subsides, all reasoning dissipates and a calm serene bath of protection takes over. its like you step outside of yourself and you do not experience any of the proposed or assumed side effects. there is no sweat, no heavy breathing, no tears. my fear is really so much more than my strength-it's my teacher.