FEAR…. Doom and Gloom.
I find many in the “Prepper and Survival world obsessed with “Doom and Gloom.” So, a belief of mine, that is very important…
“Be prepared… be Self-Reliant. Then relax, enjoy each and every moment of life… and love your family with uninhibited passion.” Jack Lawson, Author of the Civil Defense Manual…
From “Fear” by GenXican, as conveyed to The Third Harmonic at https://thirdharmonic.substack.com/
(Thank you to reader GenXican for writing this.)
Introduction
Over the past several weeks we have all been inundated with news about what is happening in the Middle East. That news is often presented in a way that preys on our fears. Those fears may not be specifically about the Middle East, but we can often connect this news with the fears we do have.
We all have fears about something. Those fears can be real or imagined. I knew someone who was very afraid of sharks which manifested itself in the great hesitation of swimming in a pool in someone’s backyard. They understood that sharks did not live in swimming pools and the clear water made it easy to see anything in the pool. Yet, they still experienced fear around swimming in the pool. To their credit they did go in the pool, but it was a difficult process.
For most of us are fears may hit a little closer to home; fear of losing a job, fear for the well being or future of your children or other loved ones, fear of not getting into a car accident. Maybe you are thinking of some of your own right now. However likely or unlikely those fears are to come to fruition they all have an impact on how we experience the world around us and with the increase of hostilities around the world we often find our own fears are increased.
These increased levels of fear are very often fed by a 24 hours news cycle that recognizes fear gets peoples attention. For many of us this increase in fear can be as simple as a slightly greater awareness and preparation for potential events to full blown anxiety and panic attacks.
So how do we approach fear in a way that allows it to be the protector it was intended to be and not the tyrant that begins to control every aspect of our life?
1 – Name your fear
One of the reasons I knew about my friends fear of sharks and that it manifested even into fear of swimming pools is because she named her fear. Naming her fear allowed her to begin to work through those fears rather than avoid or mask them. At first the group teased her about them, but when they saw it was real to her, they came along side her and supported her in her effort to get in the pool.
2 – Control your intake
Fear is a cannibal and feeds upon itself. As fear feeds upon itself it can keep taking us back to articles, news, stories, blogs that feed that fear. The more we take in that feeds our fear, the more we want to take in. In this type of feedback loop something needs to stop the loop. This can be changing what you watch, read or listen to.
3 – Develop healthy resources
Engage in activities that promote feelings of calm, safety, joy and encouragement. This can range from learning breathing techniques, prayer, scripture reading, gardening, learning to play guitar, spending time with friends and so on. Be creative, learn to build, create, encourage – those things which are about creating and not just protecting or hiding.
One resource is here: PTSD Coach Online.
4 – Remember the bigger picture
As long as humanity has existed there has been danger and fear in it’s right place helps us face those dangers. But when fear takes over it can damage our well being and create other dangers. In my life that bigger picture is my trust in Jesus. Knowing that this world is not my final destination helps me approach my fears from a different perspective. No matter what you see as the bigger picture for the existence of humanity, wars and the rumors of war have existed. We have survived, more than that we have thrived.
SO AGAIN…. “Be prepared… be Self-Reliant. Then relax, enjoy each and every moment of life… and love your family with uninhibited passion.” Jack Lawson, Author of the Civil Defense Manual…
