Fear
Question: I am taking the biggest "risk" of my life and am about to leave a longstanding job for a new home business opportunity. Although I have basically kept my old job out of fear, there is quite a bit of fear in leaving the known and "safety" for the unknown. Any tips on how to make this new adjustment in life and to quell the uncertainty?
Answer: Here is a good tip in general when it comes to getting ready to step into anything unknown: Strive to do what is in your power while remaining awake to what is not. It is not in your power to control what will occur or how events will transpire. But it is in your power to be awake to the fearful voices that either project some doom or that denounce you for making mistakes. Realize that these fearful states are secretly trying to keep you their captive. The only hold they have is the fear they can get you to buy into about "you." Remember: Do what is in your power, not what is not.
Excerpted from Seeker's Guide to Self-Freedom
Question: I want to be brave in scary situations, but when I am frightened I seem to hold on to everything even tighter! Is there a way to get past fear?
Answer: The seemingly scary condition, whatever it may be, is not the problem. It is your reaction that is fearful. If you will become conscious of your condition instead of afraid of it, you will change forever your relationship with fear. It is only within this special kind of inner-relationship that there is real safety. Each new insight into the actual nature of these negative reactions removes some of their power over you.
Question: I still seem to get caught up with my fears of the future: Am I going to reach my goals? Am I on the right path? I find myself going around in circles, and it always comes back to the fear. I try to remain in the Present Moment but the doubts seem to creep back in. What haven't I seen that I need to that will set me straight and stop all this self-doubt?
Answer: We each do all day long what we value. This is difficult to understand for the self that believes it doesn't want to fear, but nevertheless, the fact remains that we involve ourselves in what our present level of self finds fulfilling. Now the answer here is to start seeing there is no value in fear outside of fear's promise to make us fearless if we will just do as it bids. As we work to be aware of any of these distasteful inner states, our very awareness of them not only increases our understanding of their real nature, but serves to help us lose interest in the feelings these states provide. It is a wonderful thing to begin outgrowing our own lower nature. It can be done if you persist in working at it.
Excerpted from Seeker's Guide to Self-Freedom
