Forging Forward Through Fear

     Good morning, lovelies.
     It's a sune-shiney day here in the ole' midwest, but I have the feeling it won't stay that way for long.  Clouds smatter the horizon and there is a distinct nip in the breeze.  That's all right.  That just means fall is right around the corner.  The first harvest festival was yesterday, so it is the slow descent from the heady days of summer into the nesting days of autumn.  I can't wait.  I love this time of year!
     Along with the transition of the seasons, I have been going through some transitions, myself.  Some mental - working through some personal issues and emotional blockages, slowly but surely - some physical.  There's been a lot of clutter-clearing and a lot of fear-staring-down.  This brings to mind a couple things -  a few tips, if you will - on how to move through fear.  With any resistance, change, or transition, there will always be fear.  That's one of the great assurances with life, and it's one of the beautiful things about it, too!  When we learn to conquer our fears and live the lives we were meant to live, anyway, we can't help but be insanely happy, inspired, and relieved that we got through it.

1.) Acknowledge the fear (the what-if's)
     -what if we can't pay our bills?
     -what if we can't afford food or clothing?
     -what if I fail?
     -what if I succeed and the outcome still doesn't make me happy?
     -what if my family doesn't support me and my husband leaves me and the whole world falls to shit?

2.) Answer the fear
     Answer the questions that the fear brings up.
     Q What if we can't pay our bills?
     A Then we'll go down to just the basics, borrow money, maybe have to shut off the internet, etc.

     Q What if we can't afford food or clothing?
     A Chances are, there's a food pantry somewhere near you.  I used to utilize this great resource when I was young and broke, and they really fill you up with groceries!  There's also charity shops and clothing drives if you're really down on your luck.  Chances are, though, if you just watch what you're spending and where, you'll get by just fine.  For example: skip Hollister and pick up a new pair of jeans at Goodwill, Plato's closet, or Wal-Mart.  It's pretty much the same darn pair of pants... I promise!  If you want to be super thrifty, you can always look into making your own clothes.  That saved our family bouquoo bucks when I was younger and we had little money for luxuries but growing children.

Once you are able to think rationally and answer one step at a time, you'll calm down a lot and the road before you will be a little bit more clear.

3.)  Keep the goal in mind
     Now, breathe deeply, and remind yourself that the problems are answered and dealt with.  You can move past them.  Move through it and remember why you are doing this.  Is the goal to spend more time with your family?  To move forward with your career?  To establish the life you truly want in a new town/state/country?  Remember why you're doing this and why it is so important to you.

4.) One foot in front of the other
     Just remember this may be a slow path, or it may be hurtling you down-hill.  Either way, it is exactly what is supposed to happen.  Quiet your mind, trust the Divine, listen to your own intuition and gut reactions, and move with the flow of life.  When you're in the current, you will go where you need to go.  All you have to worry about is putting one foot in front of the other.  Like Gandalf said (yes, I went there.  Dude's boss, like the hokey-pokey - he knows exactly what it's all about.) "...that is not for us to decide.  All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."



     Forget the "supposed to."  Forget the standardized list of things you can and can't do, things you should and shouldn't try, etc.  Make you own path.  Try stuff.  Nine times out of ten, you can always try again and pick another path if that one doesn't pan out.  You might go through some minor inconveniences, sure.  Might have to live with you parents or a friends for a couple months (worst case scenario) or scale back on the fun activities you spend money on.  You might get a little behind on bills or have to apply for unemployment.  Again, these are all worst case scenarios.  And they don't really sound that bad.  You're still alive.  Once you get over the shock of failure, you can breathe, move through it, and say "ok, that didn't work... what do I need to do to clean up the mess?  Ok, great.  Situation contained.  Now, what do I want to try next?"
    There is an old proverb - I think it's Tao, but to be honest I can't remember correctly and I can't find it anywhere (of course) now that I want to quote it.  It goes something like this:  there is a flow to life (chi).  Things that are supposed to happen will happen, whether we can see every angle or not.  Problems only arise when we put out resistance to this flow of life.  Kind of like if you were floating in the river.  When you put your feet down, you provide resistance.  The current will push and batter you and you will not be able to walk very far or very fast.  But if you let go of your resistence, the river will carry you to the end.



Have a beautiful day, little peace-buckets.
Much love.
~Namaste