Today I found a secret weapon to fight something that plagues us all at one time or another – fear. Consider these words by Marianne Williamson:
Fear is trusting in your own power.
So few words to hold such an immense thought. That’s EXACTLY what fear is – trusting your own self and how you can control something to make yourself feel better – less fearful. That is what we innately do and we end up achieving the opposite goal. As we begin to amass ways to assuage our fear, we become overwhelmed and indecisive. We start questioning ourselves and our friends – Am I doing the right thing?
So what is the secret weapon to dealing with our fear? Realizing that fear resides in us when we begin trusting in ourselves instead of our higher power. Why not just trust that which is so much more knowing and powerful than we are? For me, that’s God and the workings of the universe He created. As soon I begin to get fearful about anything – money, people, situations, illnesses, etc. I am calmed immediately by stopping to realize that what is happening belongs to a much bigger picture than just my tiny world. That’s why my favorite Bible verse continues to be “Lean not unto thine own understanding.” And, of course, for myself I always add “because you don’t understand a damn thing.” I like to imagine God is kind of proud of me for at least realizing that.
Giving up all control and letting things unfold as they must is a much more peaceful way to live than always running around looking for ways change situations or make people do what you want them to do. Sometimes, no, most times, you have no idea what a small part you are in a very big picture that you can’t see. Sometimes God sees a very different path for you than you do. In any case, giving it up to someone bigger than you shines a spotlight on the fear that is trying to darken your life and makes it disappear.
And so, as another day goes by, there’s an old Buddha saying that my friend and I love and I choose to live my days by:
In the end only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of that which was not meant for you.
…that which is not meant for you…let it go…gracefully…and…I have written.
Love you.