"Throughout my years of observing and studying people and life, I have come to realize that people are so afraid to simply not be afraid” - Sandra Lynn Chamberlain
“Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.” ― Buddha
Amidst The Storm
The thought above came to mind not long ago and it took me back to a story that I have read many times in the bible. In this story, the men who closely followed Jesus and his teachings accompanied him on a boat. While traveling on the water, a great storm had stirred and water was entering the boat. Through this storm, Jesus was sound asleep and paid no mind to it at all. He was not afraid or worried. He was completely calm and at rest. The men who followed him were in great fear and despair. They were terrified by the storm and the waters that were crashing in. They thought surely, they would drown.
In a frenzy, they woke Jesus, exclaiming that they were all in grave danger. They asked why he was simply sleeping through the entire event, as if to not care at all. Jesus responded saying, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”. He stood and with authority spoke out to the storm and waves and suddenly all was calm and still. The followers were astonished! Not only were they baffled by his obvious calmness through the storm, but were amazed that the storm and the waves obeyed his command.
Fueling The Chaos
It doesn’t matter what “religion” you choose to claim or where you come from. We are all created, loved, and connected by the same Divine energy. You may not even believe in a god or maybe you believe in many gods. No matter the case, one thing is certain, if we simply believe and have faith that we are safe through any “storm” in our lives, it will be so. If we can open our minds and our hearts and let go of fear and worry, we will have peace. Fear does nothing but create negative energy. It further feeds the storms in our lives and often makes them much worse.
Fear keeps you bound. It blinds you. It controls you. It holds you as its prisoner. Understand that YOU are in control, YOU have the authority, and that no matter what, YOU will survive. This will set you free. When you believe these things and keep your calm, it allows your focus to shift. It permits your mind to see outside of the problem and gain a new perspective. When you can see clearly, your brain will naturally seek out resolutions and find opportunities to “calm the storm”. When we are consumed by the problem, it gets in the way of our ability to overcome it. Furthermore, if we are taken back by all of the “what-if’s”, we only generate more fear and the cycle then builds and continues.
Homework: 5 Ways To Fight The Fear
Distract yourself from worry. Walk around the block, do something creative, make a cup of tea, or have a bath. Stay away from substances! It will only make things worse.
Breathe through the panic. Don’t suppress it, feel it where you are. Place your hand on your stomach and breathe slowly and deeply. Focus on your breath.
Consider the worst. Think of the worst thing that could happen and write it down. Make a plan to overcome it. Think of several options to get past it.
Talk about it. Share your fears with someone you trust and brainstorm with them. Sometimes getting the energy out is all that you need to move forward.
Reward yourself. When you make it through the hard time, do something kind for yourself, even if it’s simply taking a nap or buying a milkshake or some Starbucks.
Fighting Fear - Conclusion
It takes practice, but training yourself to let go of fear, allows you to remain calm and at peace. Calm generates positive energy. It prevents our fight-or-flight mode, which releases many negative chemicals in our bodies, and over time can even program our minds to keep us trapped in that mindset. Just like a drug, fear can become an addiction. If you are afraid to not be afraid, you may very well be addicted to fear. When you are going through a storm, recognize the fear, consider what you are afraid of, release the worry and need for control, meditate, and pray. Allow your mind to naturally and calmly seek out solutions. Accept that the outcome may not be exactly what you wanted. Be willing to accept change. Change is how we grow and learn. Release fear and have faith. These are small ways that you can be successful in fighting fear and facing life head-on.
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