“Hope everyone is enjoying life out in the world. It’s goes by pretty fast!“ — Scott Disick
Thought for Today
Thought for Today
“Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the sooner we will be able to treat life as art.”
Maya Angelou
Tools for Defeating Fear: Breathe In, Breathe Out
I realize I talk about not giving into fear a lot. Some of you may have been wondering, but how?
When we encourage people to not give in to fear, we are talking about what some people refer to as “spiritual warfare.” This is not an earthly war that can be fought with conventional weapons such as guns and bombs. This is a great spiritual conflict which has been ongoing throughout time and as such our “weapons” must be spiritual ones.
So how do we “fight” fear without being overcome by it? There are very practical, specific tools we can use to put fear in it’s place and walk in the light of God.
Let’s begin with the breath. Bringing conscious awareness to the breath is one way to help the mind and body calm down. I know to some of you this may seem just too simplistic. Have you every tried reminding yourself to breathe when upset, fearful or angry?
There are a variety of breathing techniques available, but let’s begin with simply noticing the breath.
Breathe in slowly through your nose, feeling your belly rise as you inhale. Exhale, feeling your belly slowly fall. You may place your hands on your belly to feel it rise and fall if this is helpful for you. Continue breathing, paying attention to your breath as it goes in and out of your body. If you are upset and breathing rapidly or heavily it may take some time to slow things down.
This is something I have used while waiting for Bob to come out of doctor appointments or surgery. I am slowly getting to the point that if I feel myself becoming stressed, or my breathing starts speeding up and becoming shallow, I can simply say to myself “breathe” and watch everything start to slow down. This is one of those “simple disciplines” that is worth developing so it will be available when you need it. Paying attention to the breath is the beginning of meditation which we will discuss at another time, but just a few minutes of taking the time to stop and intentionally notice the breath will help calm things down when you are upset or fearful.
Get Together
Thought for Today
“In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.”
― Gordon B. Hinckley
Thought for Today
Copyright 2016 by R.A. Robbins
“I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it.”
― Rita Mae Brown
Thought for Today
Copyright 2016 by R.A. Robbins
“Today, just take time to smell the roses, enjoy those little things about your life, your family, spouse, friends, job. Forget about the thorns -the pains and problems they cause you – and enjoy life”
― Bernard Kelvin Clive, Your Dreams Will Not Die
Thought for Today
“I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it.”
― Rita Mae Brown
Thought for Today
“We’re so busy watching out for what’s just ahead of us that we don’t take time to enjoy where we are.”
― Bill Watterson
How is This Happening???
Years ago I watched with disbelief, dismay and great sorrow as the Christian denomination and later the local church I had called home from childhood were being torn apart from within. Now I watch with the same disbelief, dismay and sorrow as the same thing is happening to our country.
Once again, I find my soul crying out what is going on, how is this happening? How are years of painstaking baby steps toward justice and racial harmony falling apart before my eyes? Is this nation of immigrants really talking about keeping immigrants out — even going so far as to build a wall? Can it really be that some pastors are encouraging parishioners to arm themselves, even offering classes to qualify for concealed carry permits? Are we really accepting fear, hatred and armed citizens as “just the way things are?” And how on earth can anyone have to nerve to say that God is on our side in all of this?
It is time to wake up and see there is no “them” — no great “enemy” out there doing this to us. We are doing it to our selves. To quote the late “Pogo” cartoonist Walt Kelly, who was fighting against the fear and suspicion of the McCarthy era, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Our fear, bigotry and hatred are causing us to turn on each other. The United States is being destroyed, not by bombs, or terrorists, but from within. Fear is a powerful and apparently most effective weapon.
We must be vigilant. This is not the time to give in to fear. As always love is the true answer. Love is the way.
q
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