Thoughts on Fear

If you've followed this blog for a while, you know one of my mantras is "Cancer isn't the enemy, Fear is the enemy." Given the givens of my world, I've had lots of opportunity to deal with feelings of fear popping up over the past few weeks, and so I've been mulling this over. Quite often, as a matter of fact.

Because I think I've been wrong. Or, if I want to be a bit more charitable towards myself, I think I've oversimplified my mantra.

Because Fear isn't my enemy. Fear is an emotion. It belongs in the uncomfortable feelings bucket, along with anger and jealousy, but it's not an enemy. Rather, like all the emotions which float across my internal sky, it is information. 

It's been trying to tell me something. And, it's been spot on. I DO find cancer scary. I DO find uncontrolled fires scary. (especially when they are threatening my personal people!) I DO find the current political scene scary. The danger is NOT all in my head; it is real, and Fear is doing its level best to try to protect me. 

So, I've been working to change my approach towards Fear.

Because, no, Fear isn't the enemy. But when I ignore it, or try to shove it under the rug, or stuff it in a pot, it does become a problem. It shouts ever louder and jumps up and down to try to get my attention, it makes a bump for me to trip over in the rug, it spills out over the edges of the pot and makes a mess on the counter. It grows. It traps me in a corner and stops me in my tracks.

But, when I invite it in for tea, and sit with it at the table and listen to its warnings, it shrinks. It just wants to be heard. After we have finished our tea, I've been thanking it for alerting me, for trying to keep me safe.

And then, I've been moving on.

Because the real enemy is the part of me allowing Fear to stop me from living today, the only day I have. I have discovered the way around that part - whatever that part is called - is to take one next step. Then another. Enough steps, and this, too, shall be behind me.

My favorite internet thought for today:

  

This, too, shall pass - but that doesn't mean it doesn't suck to be in the midst of it.

Amen!