In Episode 6 of The Clearing Podcast, Matt and Karl start with the realities of half-term chaos (and the small wins of kids becoming a little more independent)… before moving into something many of us recognise:

"The fear of what’s coming next."

When we look to the future, there’s the exciting stuff — trips, learning new skills, time away. But there’s also the heavier stuff: health concerns, paperwork, money stress, relationships, responsibility… and the mind’s tendency to jump straight to worst-case scenarios.

This episode explores:

• Why we catastrophise (and how quickly it escalates)

• How uncertainty fuels panic — especially with medical symptoms and online doom-scrolling

• What it looks like to “make the frog smaller” by breaking big problems into manageable steps

• How to start with the easiest first step (one sentence, one phone call, one action)

• A real-time look at somatic awareness: holding stress in the body while also noticing lightness and ease

• Why you don’t have to face the dragons alone — and how asking for support can be a strength, not a failure

From health anxiety and surgery fears, to HMRC triggers and life admin loops, Matt and Karl explore practical ways to widen the lens, down-regulate the nervous system, and move forward without being swallowed by the story your mind is writing.

If you’ve got something looming — a decision, a diagnosis, a conversation, a deadline — this one is for you.

We would love to hear from you, with your practices, and/or any questions you might have around self care.

Email us at matt@theclearing.life

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