Is it possible to maintain a fearless attitude? Would that just be denial?
We can’t necessarily choose what’s going on around us, or in our lives, but we can choose how we receive it or deal with it.
When I woke up this morning, I actually felt worse than I have in a long time. I had been preparing for a teleseminar on fear and anxiety that I’d been invited to participated in, and was sent a number of emails that the host had received prior to the teleseminar. One woman had lost her husband, another had lost her house, another had lost her job, and one woman doubted that she would ever find purpose in her life. After reflecting upon all that fear, and such sobering realities, I felt more discouraged about life than I usually do.
I said a prayer about it all this morning, and then found an email when I opened up my computer.
This random email had a quote from the Bible in it, from Colossians chapter three. Here are some excerpted phrases from it:
“Set your sights on the realities of heaven…let heaven fill your thoughts… Do not think only about things down here on earth…”
I’m Christian, and over the years I have observed that when I remember who I am, and remember who God is by comparison, I can find (with God’s help) that place of peace that reminds me that there’s a bigger picture, that all will be well no matter what. That as difficult it can be, and as scary as it can be, when things seem to be going out of control on this earth, we’re actually so much more than that – we’re so much more than what’s happening in our superficial earthly lives.
As I rest in my faith, in the midst of it all, no matter what’s happening, I know I am safe. When I forget that, when I leave that place of peace, and let my mind and heart connect again with everything that’s going on in the world, I start to get scared again.
As part of the teleseminar, we discussed several useful and inspirational tips that help you get out of the fear that’s weighing so many of us down.
My tip discusses my experience that fear, rather something to be alarmed about, rather than something that signals impending danger and doom, is often just an indicator that we’ve stepped into the unfamiliar, that we don’t know what the outcome will be. The unfamiliar is actually a beautiful place to be – you’re out of your comfort zone, and that means that you are learning and growing. You can also potentially make new choices and go in a new direction. Almost always, you end up better off than you were before, even though you may have to go through tough times to get there. In the end, you’ll always find a gift in the experience – if you make the effort to look for it.
Fear is part of being human and living on this earth. The gift that inevitably comes out of scary circumstances can be likened to a piece of heaven, coming out of God’s wisdom with respect to what is truly best for our lives and growth. Which would you rather focus on?
No matter what’s going on, trust in the bigger picture, and don’t the fear drag you down or hold you back.
