FEAR: What is it? I have heard it defined as False Evidence Appearing Real. Most of the time I think that is a very good definition. I know that sometimes there are things that will hurt us and we do feel fear because we may be in danger. If a car is approaching you at breakneck speed as you cross the street…fear can help you to get out of the way. Fear can be very legitimate and very useful in keeping us safe.
However, much of the time we fear things that will never, ever happen to us. Why do we fear things that will never happen? Sometimes we allow our thoughts and our imaginations to run rampant. At times we use our own imaginations to terrorize ourselves. We dwell on the “what ifs.” What if I lose my job? What if I get cancer? What if I fail in this venture? What if they don’t like me? What if I never get married? What if I can’t pay my bills? When you are imagining all of the bad things that could happen to you–you are not living in the present. When you are fearing something that may happen in the future, you are living in an illusion that is not real. In all of these examples your fear is not real-it is only something that you made up in your mind.
What can you do about fear? You can recognize that in most cases, it is False Evidence Appearing Real. You can choose not to dwell in the future, but to stay in this present moment of your life. Right now–in this moment, you can choose to keep yourself grounded and attentive to what is. Look around you and observe your surroundings. Notice the colors, feel the breeze, hear the sounds, and make no judgements about anything. Just BE. Breathe in the air that gives you life, and know that in this moment all is well. And so it is.
With Love,
Vicki Lynn