The turmoil created by the deluge of executive orders last week has created a ripple of fear, trepidation and social media splitting. As I prepare for my Manifestation Course that starts this week, I am focusing on the power of our thoughts to transmute anything we face. This is most especially true for our response to fear. The last thing we need to is to turn against one another.
Our thoughts are the starting point for everything that exists in our reality. If you think that statement is too strong or broad – stop and look around you. Everything in front of you right now has been brought in by some very specific thoughts, no matter how long ago. If you don’t like what’s in front of you, your contrary thoughts can start a change process. That is how we shape our reality.
So here we are, with a flurry of changes being generated by thoughts at the highest level; you may or may not agree with them. What are you going to do with the fear that this generates?
Here are the thoughts that’ve come to me: We have complete power over our response and many options. Read on to discover yours now – and consider what you’d like them to be.
FEAR + FEAR = ANXIETY
When we ruminate on fear it usually expands. It’s often a solitary activity that keeps us awake at night and makes us feel more alone than we really are. It creates a punched in, tight and hollow feeling in our stomach, chest or throat. We know these feelings – anxiety.
As fear begets more fear, the anxiety can make us feel helpless. It’s like a runaway train in our mind racing through all the “what ifs” and “Oh nos”. It’s a slow train wreck in the making that leaves us tense, exhausted and edgy. After a while it can turn into depression. It’s why, in my field, we often explain that depression is fear and anxiety turned inward. It can leave people feeling hopeless and passive to change it.
Anxiety, from meeting fear with more fearful thoughts, creates the most helpless and passive face of fear.
FEAR + ANGER = AGGRESSION
When our fears make us angry, that strong emotion has to go somewhere. We often recognize it by the boiling. tight sensations in the pit of our stomach or chest that begs to be released. And it often does – coming out in strong language, biting criticism, and a desire to attack the source. Social media is full of this right now. It ramps everyone up, causing contentious divisions against one another.
Fear and anger are dangerous together because it can create the justification needed for aggression. When they are in combination, we can be easily triggered to react. It’s not surprising to see it being used strategically to create mass prejudice and hysteria. History is full of examples of this – it’s how civil and world wars are created; it’s how abusive people take power. Get people ramped up with extreme perspectives until they are willing to do explosive and extreme things. Since aggression can be aggravated, we must be careful with our thoughts and our anger.
Aggression is the dangerous face of fear and anger justified – it’s how war is started.
FEAR + COMPASSION = PEACE
There is a higher order way to approach our fear. It takes deliberate and focused recognition that we have a choice in how we think and those choices make a difference to the functioning of our world.
When we choose compassion, this bigger picture view says that everyone is entitled to their opinion. When we consider other perspectives from a compassionate perspective, it expands us and gives us peace of mind. In fact, we can recognize this response to fear by our more relaxed breathing and openness in our chest. The peace we feel on the inside translates to more peace around us.
Compassion allows us to hear one another and consider more natural, collaborative solutions to situations. It takes the sting out of fear and soothes everyone involved.
Peace, internal and external, is the face of fear with a compassionate perspective of allowing.
FEAR + ACTION = COURAGE
When we recognize fear as an internal warning sign, it can be a call to action. It can alert us to take personal responsibility for our fear. Just as if you saw your child in danger and immediately rushed to intervene. It presents us with the opportunity to do something, right now, to change the situation.
What makes action courageous? When its strategic and focused, with the higher order principles of compassion in mind, it can be done without verbal or physical aggression. It can serve a larger, greater good. It helps us stand up, speak out and use our powers for the good of all.
As I wrote about last week, this was the hallmark of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. It took discipline of mind and spirit and a great deal of courage to create those changes. It’s the kind of action that can work now.
Courage is the face of fear in action, knowing that the change it creates serves a higher purpose.
So how are you facing your fears? Do you recognize some of these responses in yourself? If you can see it as a progression of thoughts that move you toward having a conscientious response, you’re in good shape. You start by making clear choices about your thoughts, controlling your emotions, seeing the bigger picture issues and then moving toward action. When you take action in this way – you are being courageous. I hope we can all get there.
If this issue speaks to you, you may be interested in learning more. This week, on Thursday Feb, 2nd, I start The Manifestation Course, which provides an intensive study of the principles that are the underpinning for conscientious, courageous living. Come chart the course of your life on your own terms. There are just a few seats left. Call Centered to register 859-721-1841. For more information or personal Transformational Life Coaching and Counseling, see my website www.spectrumtransformation.com. I would be happy to hear from you.
