7 STEPS FOR OVERCOMING FEAR

The feelings of fear that overtake us can be transmuted into feelings of peace and faith. The words are easy to say, but to actually put into practice this concept is one that takes determination and intention and constant surveillance of one’s emotional/mental state.

I have always been a “scaredy cat” a “frightened rabbit”. As a child I wanted to hear ghost stories, anything that could give me shivers and “scare” me. It was a bit of an addiction!

As I “matured” (said with a smile…do we ever mature?) my life took many twists and turns and fear was a companion. I would be in fear over so many things, finances or the lack of finances was a very prevalent source of fear for me. There was fear over the atom bomb in the 50’s…many of us in Spokane, WA were building bomb shelters, keeping our gas tanks full and hoarding food in case those “terrible” Russians bombed us as we lay sleeping in our beds. My children were young and my mothering instincts were at their peak. Protecting these three little children were my husband’s and my primary concern. Of course, we weren’t bombed, but the emotion of fear took its toll in robbing me of joy and happiness at that time in my life. What a waste!

Alan Watts wrote a book years ago called, “The Wisdom of Insecurity”. It had great impact on me and taught me the wisdom of surrender to what is that cannot be changed. World conditions are one of the things that I cannot personally change and must “allow” to be as it is…the current world condition. My power comes in changing my perception of what is in a way that brings me the greatest harmony and peace of mind.

Viktor Frankl also inspired me as I read his words in his book, “Man’s Search for Meaning”…he concluded that the only real authentic power one has, is the ability to choose how one will look at something and how one will perceive and respond to any given event or person.

Fear is an emotion that is inherent in our DNA from eons of experiences in the human body. Running from the dinosaurs, running from marauders and conquering tribes as we evolved to our current conditioning of running from unhappiness, sorrow, pain of all kinds. We are still running from something. The most powerful thing we can do to overcome this ancient programming of fear is to stop.

Here are the seven steps to overcome this emotion that is no longer useful to us:

1.   Stop and look at what you are afraid of. Is it a fact or a fantasy? Is it a nightmare you have created out of looking at the worst possible scenario? Analyze that.

2.   Breathe deeply into your heart. Feel the safety that is there. It is always there when you focus on your breath and your heart.

3.   Listen to what your heart tells you. Is it saying, “Rest, rest, believe in me, I will take care of you…...”

4.   Know that the universe totally supports you and always says YES to you and your desires that come from your conscious and unconscious mind. That is were the work comes in. You must be sooooo clear that you consciously desire the positive and focus only on what will bring you the highest and best in your life. When you think about the “awful” things that could happen to you, guess what….? They sometimes happen. When they don’t happen, it is because the universe knows what is best for you and as you are living under grace these days and not karmic law, you are spared. Be vigilant about your thinking. Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want. Focus on the donut, not the hole! Whatever you focus on expands and becomes manifested in some way. If you continually focus on the negative sometimes it manifests as disease in the body or mind or spirit.

5.   When the feelings of fear manifest in your body…you know them, the weakness, the shaking, the vulnerable spot in the pit of your stomach…say to yourself…cancel, cancel, and cancel! I am strong, I am invincible, I am GOD in action! I am God’s hands, feet, mouth, heart, touch. I can do this thing that is before me. I can do this act that must be done. I can do whatever my highest guidance leads me to. The fear will diminish and you will be free of the limiting and paralyzing condition that fear brings about.

6.   Replacing fear with faith in the good or the “god” of life (good is just more god…a double o for more emphasis!) becomes easier as you connect with your source of power. You become stronger in your ability to move about in your world and achieve the things you desire to achieve as you give credit for your abilities to the source of all that is. Connecting with this source can be done through meditation and seeing a column of light entering your crown charka at the top of your head. You feel the golden radiance of light that pulsates through your body and you know you are connected with spirit and the power of source.

7.   Gratitude is the final step in freeing yourself from fear and its effects on you. It is a way of appreciating all that you have and are…you are the only one that truly knows your path, where you have been and how far you have come. You are who you are because of this long path through life. You can be grateful to all those who have touched your life in so many ways. Even the so called “negative” experiences have added to your worth. You are who you are because of all of your experiences. A prayer of gratitude in the midst of fear will lessen the effects of the fear on your body and mind. A prayer of gratitude that you are alive and feeling and can choose to feel something else. A prayer of gratitude that you can let go of any feeling you choose to let go of. Do you really choose to let go of fear? Do you really want to achieve and get out of the wallowing in the fear barrel? Think about it!

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE! FEAR HAS NO PLACE IN YOUR PRESENCE! IT IS THE OPPOSING SIDE OF LOVE AND LOVE IS ALL THERE IS!
Namaste!