Thoughts on Fear

The horizontal axis of space-time is not an easy place. Often it is quite frightening. In reading Pema Chodron's excellent guide to life on this plane, Comfortable With Uncertainty, she makes the case that we are meant to "lean into our fears" instead of running away from them. As "Warriors of Compassion" we are asked to hold the fears we experience as a form of praxis. It is often difficult work. This morning Gary O'Connor posted his good "thought for the day" and I it stimulated the thinking and reflection I myself have been going through. Here are his excellent "thoughts" for your consideration:

"We can't fear the past. Fear is a future thing. And since the future’s all in our heads, fear must be a head thing."
-- Tom Payne

It helps to understand that fear is usually a projection into the future. We typically fear what MIGHT happen rather than what is happening now. Susan Jeffers notes that 90% of what we fear usually does not materialize. So replace your images of disaster on the TV screen in your mind with awareness of what is really happening. And don’t allow your thinking to change channels. "I have not ceased being fearful, but I have ceased to let fear control me."
-- Erica Jong

As Yeshua said to his students caught up in the midst of the stormy challenges of his day, "Peace! Shalom! Salaam!"