There are periods in our lives when we are navigating fearful times. Whether the fear comes from outside circumstances or inner battles, fear can stop us and, hopefully, make us want to take a different direction.
For me, the most fearful time in my life was hearing my husband yell at me from the front of the house: “Grab what you have and leave. The fire is here.’ The image I saw when I left the house will never leave me. Our car was parked near the front door between two bushes that were on fire. I could see from the missing hair on my husband’s face and arms that the flames had caught him. Even though that happened nearly 6 years ago, I will never forget!
Hopefully, most of you have never experienced, nor will ever experience, something as fearful as being in the middle of a wildfire. But that fire taught me a lot about dealing with fear, learning to trust again, and expressing gratitude for the little things.
Fear can also be a catalyst for change or action.
Dr. Edward Viljoen addresses this issue in his article in the August Science of Mind magazine.
Fear can guide me by pointing to what matters; what I love, what I long to protect and where I feel unprepared. Instead of treating fear as a moral failure, I can let it motivate me to be curious: What is this fear asking of me?
~Dr. Edward Viljoen
Obviously, in my situation, fear made me literally run to the car and drive away from the fire. That was easy, but what about navigating the fearful time we are living in? If you read the news, there is plenty to feed anyone’s fear.
Dr. Edward listed his prescription for navigating fearful times:
- Connect: Human connection can help calm our nerves. Giving or receiving hugs, being with someone you care about
- Care: Like connection, care consists of being present for someone, even if they are a stranger
- Communicate: Real connections through conversations can support resilience more effectively than digital conversations
- Gather: Seek out your community to promote creative energy
Spiritual practices are a great way to temper one’s fears. When we immerse ourselves in prayer, meditation, journaling, or visioning, there is no room for fear to take over. And of course, finding gratitude for even the little things will help!
I have written a digital booklet on the subject: Spiritual Tools to Enrich Your Soul.
The eight practices shared in the booklet will help center your soul and navigate through fearful times.