Most people look at inner psychological fears with separation (from a distance). However, this distance is illusory; such distance involves time and perpetuates fear. All fears, to exist, depend upon thoughts and time. They are often about what will happen or what — according to the mind — could happen. This projecting about the future involves (and is) psychological time. Of course, there are some natural and necessary fears, like when a big shark is seen in the water where one is swimming. That is when fear is prudent and natural. However, most of us have many fears that are not so prudent.
With many psychological fears — as what often happens — what purports to be separate from fears, supposedly “having them,” then looks for ways to go beyond the fears. This wanting to go beyond the fears involves distance and time. As we said, the fears themselves are the result of time. This may be a mindless circle — that many are caught in — that prevents clear understanding and wise change. A wise mind may perceive that fears are not separate from what it (partially) is. Such a wise mind may also see that there is nothing truly separate from the fears that, in a possessing kind of way, has them. Inventing or imagining something separate from them (to get rid of them) creates unnecessary conflict and friction. Conflict and friction depend upon time (and waste energy).
A mind that is largely beyond psychological fears (and needless internal separation and friction)… is a marvelous thing.
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Any attempt to distance oneself from fears real or imagined will only make them worse. Going into fear is counterintuitive but absolutely necessary… most of us run the other way! Sometimes I am not aware of a fear that is undermining my psyche and behavior – key for me is SEEING what tricks I am playing on myself!
Yes, Sara, one tries to distance oneself from fear, or tries to suppress or subjugate fear, which ends up creating more conflict (and is a waste of energy, being a faulty process).
And yes, the mind can keep fears in the background (in order to avoid them) but they need to be understood, not buried. A fear is not separate from what one is. Fears understood help the mind exist as clarity.
I like this Tom – fears need to be addressed and understood – burying them creates hell – literally.
I’m so glad that you see the importance of this, Sara. If fears are not delved into and intelligently investigated, then we are slaves to them forever and are existing in (and “as”) distortion. Another possible tip: It may be prudent (when examining fears) to investigate them not just with conditioned negativity but as if seeing them to joyfully learn and grow. 😉
excellent point your tip!
👍🏼 Creating the distance in order to ‘avoid’ frequently results in worse psychological/body turmoil and wasted energy, never to be resolved if we’re not careful.
Yes, Margaret, you are right. Trying to bury the fears (to get rid of the fears) is what is undertaken by what is constituted of fears. It’s kind of like a dog chasing its own tail. You can chase after that tail or try to drop it out of sight but it will always be there as a part of what you are. A dog that intelligently realizes that it is not separate from its tail may not be foolish enough to chase it.
The longer I live, the more fears I seem to have … fears that I know I never had before … it sure frustrates me as I consider myself to b a strong person. I think it is society and as you and I have discussed, the weather now and what will happen down the road is not only worrisome but frightening. The fine hairs are amazingly large in the photo.
When we were very young, we didn’t have many fears. We didn’t have fears about death, the climate, getting shot in school, or about many other things. Times are different now. Some fears now a justified. However, we must not let them dominate our minds. Excessive fears can cause the mind to deteriorate and wither. Stress is a big (invisible) killer. Oftentimes, worrying much does not do a whole lot of good. My actions of being good and presenting this blog are a big part of my answers to all this. I realize that the world is big and in a mess, but we must be an oasis in all of the insanity.
Thanks about those fine plant hairs… and the ant seems to have some small hairs too, (so she is where she belongs).