We have all experienced Fear. The ego mind wants to keep us safe, to survive and to protect us from danger. The ego voice tells us what we should do or not do out of Fear of death. Usually when it involves the emotions and feelings of Fear it can and usually is false. FEAR is - False Evidence Appearing Real.
Fear is a negative emotion that shows up in many different forms ie anxiety, claustrophobia, fear of death, anxiety about what might or might not happen. Fear of not having enough work or enough money, fear of failure in relationships, fear of travelling etc. Whatever the fear thought patterns are about they can feel very real and are very debilitating.
When the stress hormones Adrenalin and Cortisol release into the body, the brain is looking for answers and how it should respond. The fear hormons bubble up as anxiety and the flight fight response. These emotions and feelings happen very quickly. The more we feel them the bigger the fear and anxiety symptoms grow and take hold.
There is a place for fear that can work to our advantage - if we have to fight off a predator or speak in front of a large audience. But if fear is manifesting itself and it is not for those reasons then we can respond in an inappropriate way. The reality of what is happening at that time does not match our response.
The emotional feelings of fear are very real in the body. The mind imagines the thing has already happened and we can create the future from these anxious thoughts. The mind will then justify to itself and persuade us into thinking that it was right to feel fearful in the first place.
How do we change the fearful and anxious thoughts? Meditation is one of the big resources that can alleviate Fear. Keeping up a daily practise gives us a higher Consciousness state and it is through meditation that the intellect changes the thought patterns and transmitters in the nervous system.
By realising what the fear is about and where it comes from then we are in a very different headspace. The higher state of consciousness, the mind and body will be able to adapt and respond differently. The three R's - Recognise the Fear, Realise the triggers, then ask yourself "is this the same situation or is it different?" The Response to fear can be changed quickly by adjusting the thought patterns. It takes practise and courage and is so worthwhile.
The Serenity Prayer is a great comforter at fearful and anxious times.
"God grant me the Serenity to Accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can and the Wisdom to know the difference."
It has been some time since I sent the link to the audio by Thom Knoles (Vedic Master and my Teacher) on Life Without Fear: Cultivating Personal Invincibility. It is worth sharing again and will be a great resource for you to have in the future.
Enjoy listening to the Audio on Sound cloud here.
Until next time.....
