It is really amazing, when you stop to think about it. Especially when you are not in the middle of something causing or increasing you state of fear.
Everyday someone is trying to overcome something that induces a state of fear within them. It could be something seemingly small. Or something huge like climbing Everest. Without oxygen. Or the right shoes. No crampons. Lost ice axe.
And what causes fear for one person, may not for another. Obvious stuff I know.
Fear’ll stop you in your tracks!
It can keep you from hearing (seeing, feeling) just about anything. It puts us into the primal response mode: fight or flight. Flight being the more predominant, unless that fear is directly in front of us causing fight-tendencies to take over.
A deep state of fear makes it impossible to rationalize. Our bodies are not designed to think, much less create anything at all, while in fight or flight mode! It’s that old Saber Tooth Tiger chasing you down the freeway situation! (Hmmm should I buy that car in green or blue?)
Face your fears!
Natural disasters cause fear. There is a movement in Oregon to prepare for an “eventual” earthquake. (Though how unfortunate that no one can predict or agree on when it will actually occur!) In this preparation for a natural disaster, it is easy to get caught up in all the bad things that could happen. Get caught up in this state of fear. Generally a negative energy spiral.
A dear friend and I were chatting about disasters and preparedness. She told me that while she was researching preparedness measures, the deeper she got into it, the more depressed she became!
“Face your fears,” is sometimes easier said then done. But done it can be, it is possible, though admittedly can be difficult. So in this case, my friend’s preparing for a potential medium-level natural disaster could mean that were one to hit, she could be more calm knowing that she has prepared.
I say we annex this state of fear!
What about facing in to these issues that cause us fear or maybe a bit of trepidation? (I’ll grant you, preferably after they have passed, though many a hardy soul has been able to do this during an actual crisis!)
For most of us, looking in to our fears will identify lots of those pesky buttons that the universe loves to push. (Sometimes mine feels like a sound studio board that has about, oh, maybe several thousand little red blinky buttons!)
By really opening up our hearts and awareness to what is there. (Yes, they are usually Saints in the making, or already have been made! Don’t forget that Paramhansa Yogananda said, “A saint is a sinner that never gives up!”)
Asking for help from the Divine or our guru is always an excellent tool to aid us in taking that right step. (I know those saints are always calling out to God, whether in joy, laughter, sadness, love.) (Read Asha Praver’s book Loved and Protected)
Master can help us move forward, and away from the fears. Even if one small step. And that my dears is still one more step away from where we were.
Our guru, the Universe, is here to help us. All we need to do is…well…ask!