September 22, 2016

                                                WHY ARE WE SO AFRAID?

Why are we so afraid? – Simple – we are more comfortable with the known rather than the unknown. The unknown disturbs our comfort level, reveals emotions that we never acknowledge exist within us. It opens our eyes to see, feel and experience the other side of us. After all, everything around us is only a mirror of our creation.

Because of fear we fail to experience life to the fullest. We failed to have a healthy exchange of ideas and viewpoint with our neighbors. We become afraid of crossing the street, interacting with strangers, (who by the way are not really strangers) going to another country, try a different type of food, etc.  We seldom explore our neighborhood. We become fearful of expressing and experiencing our true self, that masterpiece of love, compassion, forgiveness and healing that our Creator has made in His own image and likeness.

Our fear denies us the ability to ask and receive the abundance the universe has to offer.  And because we are stymied within our fearful self we never ask and, even when we ask, we doubt we will receive. We are afraid that there will never be enough of anything when the truth is, there is no lack.  On the one hand, the more fearful we become it frequently manifest itself in the form of hatred of self and others, bigotry, and racism. On the other hand, fear traumatized us to remain silent to the injustice that is taking place around us. By shifting our thought process (creative) we can clean up this toxic, fearful environment. 

Can we truthfully say that at any given time in our journey we have taken the time to look into the eyes of the person next to us and ask that person how you are doing and take the next step and ask about their family?  Not so long ago, it was normal to greet everyone you meet on the street. As I child, I remembered that if I pass a neighbor on the street and did not acknowledge them, I would be reported to my parents and suffered the humiliation of being marched to their house to ask for their pardon and promised never to do it again.  We no longer acknowledge each other because we live in fear and no longer see our inherent goodness. When we allow fear to be our guide instead of unconditional love, we traumatize ourselves. We boxed ourselves into little niches and we deprived ourselves the full measure of our being

  

As President Disaku Ikeda of the Soka Gakkai International Nichiren Buddism, once said: “Faith is to fear nothing, to stand unswayed, the power to surmount any obstacle.” We can overcome this distraction (it is only that) by affirming faith, truth and honesty in our everyday life.  We can banish the crippling fear that is destroying our daily lives and make love, light and compassion the norm rather than the exception. We can look fear in the eye each day and affirm to ourselves: “I fear you not, you no longer have the power over me, I am free from your drama and I am fully expressing my true self of love, joy, and laughter with compassion to myself and humanity.”

Let us embrace life to the fullest. Give light and love wherever we go illuminating the people and space we encounter. We can banish fear from our circle - acknowledge and greet each other, sow seeds of love and give light to everyone. This loving exchange of energy broadens our horizon. It allows the inevitable shift in our consciousness and ferment a better environment without fear. What a revelation!  What a revolutionary idea!