Have you ever felt a type of fear that cripples your attempts at change? Have you ever identified with fear as a dominant emotion and experiencing fear as a driving force in your life? Fear prevents you from truly having an authentic, loving relationship with your Self. The more fearless you become, you begin to experience life as an opportunity – to lean in and learn more and more about yourself and others, rather than perceiving things happening to you, or will happen to you!
Fear and discontent can play a huge role in resisting a sustainable recovery from alcohol and drugs addiction. Pema Chodron, a Buddhist teacher, teaches on fearlessness and she states, “to know fearlessness you need to know the nature of fear in our lives. ” The journey of recovery is at the very heart of fearlessness. We need to watch our fear and realize how we relate to this phenomena inside us. We often will externalize our fear with great unawareness, by reacting to others with our views and opinions. Pema speaks about “smiling at your fear.” To smile at your fear is producing a twofold positive outcome 1) it decreases your fear about fear, and 2) it makes you aware of the fear itself!
Behavioral responses to fear and insecurity
Fear itself is not to be feared. It is ubiquitous and creates a certain degree of insecurity and anxiety about the unkown, which promotes a desire to create “ground” and for more assurances that you will be okay. The reality is – You are always okay! Fear, when it is experienced as a splinter in the core of your ego, will gnaw at your sense of contentment and awareness of love and compassion all around you and cultivating thoughts, feelings and behaviors that promotes the fear of fear.
This holiday season take time to familiarize yourself with fear in your life. “Lean in” and become curious with your fear and smile at it, since it has a story of its own – separate from reality.
Peace to you and yours!
