Hey Family :)
During this challenging time, let's talk about recognising and choosing to move beyond FEAR.
We are being tested in ways that were unimaginable a few months ago. I feel your anxiety. For me, I need to apply all of my spiritual practice to this pandemic. It starts with acknowledging all of the Fear that is swirling around us now.
In my spiritual practice, I have learned that there are two types of Fear: (1) fear that I am going to lose what I have and (2) fear that I am not going to get what I want. When one or both of those types of fear are triggered, it is very hard for me to remain grounded, present, loving and grateful.
Although I hate at admit this, I am completely powerless over the pandemic and it is totally unmanageable by me. Trying to control (over-thinking) this will drive me insane. To remain grounded, I need to connect with my concept of a Higher Power. I need to have COMMUNITY and speak truthfully with others about all of the fears that I are feeling and how they are threatening my instincts for security, self-esteem, personal relations, sex and money.
I think it's also really important to recognise that there's a very unkind voice in my head. You probably have one too. It's the voice of dis-ease -- the one that tells you that (1) there's not enough and (2) you're not enough.
I call my critical voice Phyllis. She is a wizened 75 year-old retiree who lives in a trailer park way out in the desert. She chain-smokes unfiltered Kool cigarettes and her hair is always in curlers. Phyllis is MEAN. She thinks you suck, I suck and it sucks.
Phyllis is the voice of my FEAR. So I need to understand that (a) she is NOT me, (b) she certainly is not my Higher Power and (c) she does NOT want me to be happy, joyous and free.
When Phyllis gets vocal, I pause and say to her: "Hey Girl, I see you. Thanks for over-sharing. I acknowledge that you feel afraid right now. Let's choose to turn this situation/person/triggering event/virus over to the CARE of our Higher Power, okay?" When I do that, she stomps her dirty slippers on the shag carpet and marches off to her bedroom to sulk. LOL.
Spiritual development requires CONTRARY ACTION. For instance, I feel anger and choose to call my spiritual coach and talk about how my instinct for self-esteem was just triggered. It is SO unsatisfying to realise that my head and my attitudes are usually the problem in most situations. Boooooooo.
The spiritual response to my Fear is cultivating the belief that (a) There IS enough and (b) I AM enough. Fear is about lack. Faith and Trust are based in the unusual concept of ABUNDANCE. Trust me, this awareness did not happen for me over night. It has required years of instruction and practice.
Let's all choose love, joy, compassion and gratitude in this moment. Even when Phyllis says that I am screwed. Make the contrary decision to believe that you are being cared for, even when your Phyllis says otherwise.
Sending you all love and light. Namaste.