Pema Chodron reminds me of how to deal with life in her book, When things fall apart. “Chaos can be regarded as good news”, she states. How do we face our fear and anxiety, and our difficulties and pain?
In these tough times we need the wisdom acknowledge our fear and anxiety. Let yourself feel those feelings to become fearless. I know this may sound odd but try to examine what is going on in ourselves and make the connection with the fear. Acknowledge that sensation. Acknowledge we live with fear everyday. Being fearless is not allowing the world around us to torment our lives and to live in a quiet sense of dignity.
These feelings in us relate to the water element in the Five Elements. Each element has a healthy and an unhealthy state of physical, mental and emotion being. Fear can be healthy when we need to move away from something but we deepen our sense of wellness when we can feel the calm and peacefulness in our lives. This sense of tranquility brings us to a sense of stillness without stopping, tranquility like a river flowing with ease.
Helen Keller’s Wisdom
Helen Keller, born in 1880 and died in 1968 worse a famous quote about life and security. She notes that fear is always part of our lives. Her famous quote is one to live by, Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. God Himself is not secure, having given man dominion over His works! Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. Faith alone defends. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”
In the presence of panic, it is difficult to see what is happening to us. The world around us often ignites those feelings of panic and anxiety. It may even seem these feelings seem unusual. Honestly, those feelings have always been there. As we start to notice and feel alive we can befall alive to relax with our fear and smile.
As we smile in the face of fear we will develop a sense of calm. Lean in to the difficult and fearfulness. Develop loving kindness toward oneself and others. Relax in the groundlessness and the unknowing. You may be surprised. Your honesty, kindness and bravery will lighten your heart. You may find inner joy and peace inside.
