Peace, joy, and your fear in the mirror

PEACE, JOY, AND THE FEAR IN THE MIRROR

There’s a whole truckload of self-help folks who will stand and  tell you “success” or happiness lies just on the other side of “fear.”  They call on us to “embrace” or face our fear and thus conquer it.  In theory  the same people are. Spot on, hitting the  right targets, in the zone,brilliant,  and have touched upon the ultimate key.  In reality....”

This idea is full of crap.  That’s right I say... this notion that  fear is bad has to go.  Firsat bexcause it’s not that simple, and second, to ignore it is to ignore a  sound in the dark  that allows us to be human and spiritual beings.  Go on?  Okay

The door creeks openand you walk from the light of a summer day into  a dusty pitch black  cellar.  You reach for the tinychain that hangs down from  a solitary  dim bulb.  One more step and you should  feel it.  You take that step feel the chain and pull.  It clicks but no light Just then you hear the sound of breaking  glass.

Why might  you feel fear?  

well .... let’s start with  the fact that your surroundings are unclear.  Let’s add in the fact that what you had expected to happen didn’t happen and is not likely to happen  moving forward.  Pile on  top of that the sound of breaking glass  (with the exception of some  ethnic celebrations) is not something that brings much comfort.  You didn’t  plan for this by bringing a flashlight because you knew the light was right there in reach every time you needed it.  Now it is not.  You wonder what happened and why?

So your best friend  gets into a car wreck—you get  sick for no aparent reason, Your  job disappears for. Any number of re3asons, Will you feel fear?  Yep unless you have no sense of empathy which makes us kind beings—unless you have no sense of purpose—and will not take responsibility for what has happened or will happen—-unless you have no need to bring  meaning to your experiences—in short unlesasa you  aren’t really a  genuine human/spiritual being.  

Fear is more than a mass of throbbing insecurity or a wall of uncertainty—though it can  be those things it is an instinct to preserve yourself long enough to  reset, reflect, and act.  It is a prompt to change because. What you were. Doing , the direction you were. Headed isn’t going to  last anymore.  fear  in other words can be quite valuable.  So should you celebratefear....not really but you can accept its invitation to reflect.  

So what of thisreflection?  How can this help. In seeking peace and/or joy?  Well every person is different so  the questions below are  just a few of the possible questions that might help folks seek peace and joy, or in other words these are  some that work for me most of the time.  

Do I feel fear because I am uncertain or is it  frustration and disappointment because I thought  I had control of this and now I do not?  Am I feeling fear because. I haven’t been here before and  add that control part from above?  Am I afraid  because none of the possible meanings of this. Fear prompting event allows  me to create a positive. Meaning, a meaning that aligns with the notions of I built  about my self or those around me?  In short is the. Question why unanswerable with  some  answer  you would have chosen?  Then I ask myself—what does the world expect of me?  Then Iscream at myself for asking. That because  I’m supposed to. Not worry about  that (especially when seeking my own peace and joy).  By the way the next question I ask is very important.... Do I ask what others think because I’m gathering  possible  building blocks for creating meaning or support or am I looking to  dismiss my responsibility for what happens  next?  Doesn’t this seem easy so far?  Well good...here comes the harder part... These questions  can be asked and answered,  however you will get  stuck in fear if you do one thing... Judge yourself or your answers.   These questions rate simply to  set the “you are here”. Spot.  You are not likely to get any traction in any direction  until you find that spot.  Your cannot create a map because. Unless. You know  where you are there is not place  to look forwards to and if you don’t know where you are going no map can get. You there, but any map is like to be the one you’ll reach for.  

Well that’s about enough street corner philosophy for one reading...tomorrow  my thoughts on facing your fears alone (usually not advisable but sometimes unavoidable). Or exposing your  fears to others and building  your toolbox for harnessing the power of ear.  

By the way that basement IS haunted in my opinion just. So that you know.  

Breathe.