By Richard Moss
Fear is a sensation that we name according to the situation. If you are standing at the rim of the Grand Canyon, you speak of fear of heights: acrophobia. If you are in a crowded place the word is agoraphobia. There are a thousand names for fear, but only one sensation, which of course can be present in varying intensity.
Throughout evolution, fear was our teacher of survival. It alerted us to danger. It told us be prepared. This was and remains the healthy aspect of fear. But today, at least in the developed world, we have relatively few threats from outside. Our greatest threats come from within us, from what we tell ourselves about others or our situation and the anxiety, insecurity, hate, or even terror those thoughts create. Our minds create fears by believing stories such as, “I’ll be all alone in my old age,” or “I won’t have enough money.” There is only one sensation of fear, but limitless stories that will arouse it in us.
As long as there is a compulsive avoidance of any threatening or distressing feeling, fear unconsciously remains the god ruling our psychic life. Real transformation begins when you are able to bow before fear and acknowledge its power, but declare that it is no longer your god. At that moment you become the disciple of a new god: Awareness. Immediately, what awareness asks of you is to learn, to the best of your ability, to remain present and open even when there is fear.
The sensation of fear is difficult to be with and when you cannot create a big space for it, the immediate tendency is to become self-involved. You contract in upon yourself, your head starts spinning more thoughts; your mind becomes strategic -“How do I regain control?” How do I get away from this feeling?” All that matters to you is your self-interest and you stop being caring to others and their needs. From a psychological point of view, the combination of fear and self-interest is probably the greatest threat facing humanity today. It poisons all relationships whether within marriages, families, business, politics, and international affairs.
But there is no such thing as being safe; life is and will always be full of uncertainty.
As soon as fear closes you down, you have reached the limit of your ability to love and grow. For example, as you risk building a new business, it will be fear, perhaps the fear of failure or even of success that might slow or even sabotage you. If you are in a relationship, it will be the fear of abandonment, or being a betrayer, or just a sense of insecurity that will make you pull back.
To “live fearwards” –or sometimes I say “move fearwards”– means that instead of being halted by fear you let fear become your teacher. You open yourself to the sensation of fear. You let yourself become vulnerable. You stop blaming others. You stop seeing threats and start seeing opportunities to awaken to greater consciousness.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this article shortly…..
– Richard Moss is the Maestro of “Deep Work.” He teaches people how to delve deeply into their inner core so they can achieve a life of “Radical Aliveness,” Unconditional Love, and Real Inner Peace. For 37 years, this globally renowned physician-turned-master healer, international bestselling Hay House author, and workshop leader has been guiding people on profound journeys of self-inquiry and self-discovery that have transformed their relationship with themselves, with their loved ones and with the world. Moss’ work, outlined in two of his bestselling books Inside-Out Healing and the Mandala of Being, is centered in helping people achieve present moment awareness-and to clear away the beliefs, habits and thinking patterns that prevent them from living in a hyper-alive, joyful and loving state of being nearly all of the time. For more information and to learn about Richard’s October and November retreats, go to: www.richardmoss.com