Hello, Little Fear

This past week I was reminded.  Fear isn’t something I can see or hear or taste.  I can’t watch it in the sky or pick it up off the ground.  Because it doesn’t actually exist in the tangible world.  My fears are creations of my own mind, and outside of my mind they have no basis in reality.  I find this realization to be very liberating.  If the fear exists only in my mind, then my mind has total control over it.  Yes, if a bear is chasing me through the forest, there is a good reason for my fear.  It creates physiological changes in my body chemistry that make me better able to fight or escape.  But most of the time fear is a ridiculous phantom parasite feeding on anything good or lovely or positive in my life.  Even knowing this I sometimes get caught up in it though.

To which other emotions or thoughts might this principle also apply?  Anger?  Hatred?  Even love?  And if it does, what does that tell me about my ability to control every aspect of my life?  My belief is that my life and especially my reactions to what happens around me, are exclusively under my control.  Of course there are degrees to everything and exceptions to every rule.  What I’m talking about here is the course of normal, everyday life.  These things are my responsibility, and under my control.

Meditation is all about living in this very moment and noticing the things that go by without judging them.  I don’t have be to ruled by my fears or any other emotions.  Or much of anything else either.

“Hello, little fear.  Yes, I see you there, and I’ll even hold your hand for a second.  Ok, now I’m going back to living in this moment.”

Wishing you a wonderful day.