Today’s lesson is from “The Fear Book” by Cheri Huber

Some things we may not think of as fear
– anger, sadness, irritation, urgency, depression, control issues –
are pointing to an underlying fear.  Resistance to doing something is one of the processes that masks fear.

Every time we choose “safety” we reinforce fear.   We close down.  We close off.  And our lives shrink.

What Fear is…

Fear is not what you think it is.  Too often, we think of Fear as a ‘thing.’   Or worse we use fear to describe who we are.   You hear people say “I’m afraid” or “I’m worried that….”

It’s not true.  Fear is not a thing.  It is not who you are.   It’s just a feeling that you have periodically. 

What Fear is…

Fear is a very useful signal along the path to Freedom.   The stronger the fear the closer you are to what you are seeking.   It wants you to stay “safe” – which is stuck where you are.  

What Fear is…

And too often we think that fear is something that is coming for us in our live.

We think to ourselves (generally unconscously) that “if I do X, I’m going to feel scared or uncomfortable.”. 

We have to change our view of Fear.   Fear is NOT the HUNTER.  It Is The HUNTED. 

All that separates you from yourself, and what you can be, is an illusion.

Because if you face fear – you might kill it.  It’s scared for its life.

Some things we may not think of as fear – anger, sadness, irritation, urgency, depression, control issues – are pointing to an underlying fear.  Resistance to doing something is one of the processes that masks fear. 

Every time we choose “safety” we reinforce fear.   We close down.  We close off.  And our lives shrink.

When we attempt something new and find ourselves really uncomfortable, we believe the discomfort means that something is wrong, so we try to get out of the situation. 

 …… and our world shrinks. 

Whether we are avoiding everything that could produce the dreaded discomfort we call fear,

Or stopping us from pursuing things that could produce the desirable feeling we call excitement,

We are removed from the present moment by the belief that our lives will not be the way it “should be”

The relentless pursuit of happiness is one definition of Suffering

The Single-Minded avoidance of pain is another. 

Our world shrinks when we are paralyzed by fear of making mistakes, and by fear of doing something wrong.  But if we simply take a step and see what happens, our world opens up a bit.   Then we can take another step. 

Every step enlarges our view. 

Only when we focus on the process rather than the content can we begin to address what is really going on. 

We could talk for hours, days, lifetimes, about what is wrong,

what could happen,

what won’t work.  

DON’T DO IT!!!!!!!! 

Instead take a step.  Look around, see where you are, and see what your next step will be.  Take that step, see where you are, and the next step becomes clear.  Maybe it’s back to where you started.  

You cannot know until you get there.  Each step is clear only from where you are at the moment. 

The final step is not apparent at the beginning, only from the step immediately before it.