Essential advice for self and world transformation.
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Fear is one of the most destructive forces on the planet. The impact of fear overshadows significant attempts at peace and equanimity, drives our life force down, virtually eliminates our capacity for creative thought and keeps healing and transformation at arms length. One would think that in a “civilized” society cause for fear would be minimal as we don’t have to run from a lion, or bear, but fear is posing what may be the most significant challenge our human life has ever faced.
Sources of fear within our modern world appear to be nearly limitless:
- Ebola
- ISIS
- Political elections
- Border issues
- Financial security
- Climate change
Unlike running from a bear or lion, which cause momentary fear followed by release and relaxation. These current “issues” of fear are spoken of in such a way that the heightened state of arousal never ends. This is extremely detrimental to our physical body as fear, anxiety, and terror set off a biological chain of events in which our bodies shut down “unnecessary” functions (digestion) in order to divert energy to more necessary functions (eyesight, heart function and lungs) so we will be prepared to respond to the perceived threat.
Of course, when watching the news, there is no threat to respond to but the body does these things anyway. The next impact is when we are under a borage of chemical messengers, fear prompts our brain to work differently and causes normally rational thoughts to be silenced as the arousal state continues. In this state, all incoming information gets categorized as negative and stored that way. Consequently, over extended periods of time, fear morphs our view of the world, our family, and our neighborhoods, causing us to view much of what surrounds us as being negative.
We often experience this as constant chatter, even when we are still or silent.
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These effects are impactful enough, but fear’s effects don’t end there. If the state of arousal is continued over long periods of time, not only do our thoughts change, but so does our actual physiology. Ongoing fear over taxes our stress response system (adrenal glands) causing them to work overtime with very little rest. The impact of a lack of rest can be fatigue, insomnia, depression, panic, low immune function, and infection. As the adrenals get ramped up over and over, it becomes harder to settle our brain. We often experience this as constant chatter, even when we are still or silent. We find it harder to access states of being which can negate fear and allow the body to heal, such as meditation.
Fear has another effect, which lies at the heart of its most significant impact and is evidenced in our DNA. Under the effects of fear, our DNA becomes unbundled. This means it takes on a shape which is not conducive to its most effective function. If we stay in this state, on a physical level, it becomes harder and harder for our bodies to produce proteins, new cells, hormones, and essential chemicals.
DNA however, is much more than a chemical messenger, it is an interface between the source field or creating power of the universe and our physical self. DNA acts as a transmitter, generating the expression of physical reality which we live in, a process which Rupert Sheldrake called Morphic Resonance.
As a transmitter between the field which generates all life and our physical form, DNA is our physical interaction with spiritual nourishment. Consequently, under the effects of chronic fear, this connection is hindered, in effect cutting us off from God. Chronic fear places us in a position where we become physically and spiritually cut off from higher level thinking which if accessed could in fact lead us out of the very fear we are stuck in.
Consequently, fear represents the most significant detrimental force on the planet, but luckily it is also one of the weakest. Fear is a low level emotion, which requires a great deal of sensationalism to be supported. If we disengage from the sources which feed us this information, the effects are almost immediately minimized. The time previously spent ingesting the myriad of media and social sources distributing fear can then be used to practice meditation, yoga, qi gong, tai chi, or even just walking outside. Being active further limits fears effect and renders it weakened and subdued.
If we go one step further and rescind our participation in the culture of fear, and I mean audibly vocalize:
“I no longer give you permission to make me fearful, my emotions are my own, I will not allow them to be controlled”
we remove ourselves even further. Finally, if we engage in compassionate love based thoughts, intentionally attaching those thoughts to everyone in our lives, to our every day actions, our drive to work, our trip to the grocery store, the doctors office, the post office, and to our meal times, fear looses its grip on our lives.
Fear only works when we forget how powerful we really are. Fear cannot grab hold of our lives when we have rescinded our permission, elevated our thinking, and consciously brought love and compassion into the forefront of our awareness. Furthermore, from these higher level states of being, we can collectively and constructively find solutions to the present issues.
Therefore, we can transform not only our own reality but that of the entire planet and subdue fear once and for all.
Originally posted on SevenDirections Looking for more advice on overcoming the struggles of 21st century existence? Sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter here. Photo: hang_in_there/Flickr