healing ways
STOP FEAR
FROM RUNNING OUR LIVES Fear and Anxiety Characters from “Jackie and Creativity go to School” written and illustrated by Lynda Hope.
by Lynda Hope
Anxiety (Illustrated by Lynda Hope)
What is the opposite of love?
It is not hate, but fear. They are two very different energies. Love is a high vibrational energy, whereas fear is the lowest. If we are self-aware, we know immediately how we feel. Typically, we allow the day-to-day chaos, negative thoughts, news reports and future uncertainties to affect our overall outlook and mood. The American Psychological Association (APA) 2020 Stress in America Survey reported that we were facing a national mental health crisis that could yield serious health and social consequences for years to come. Nearly eight in 10 adults said the coronavirus pandemic was a significant cause of stress in their lives, and two out of three stated they had experienced increased stress over the course of the pandemic. 34
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Nearly half reported that their behavior had been negatively affected by pandemic stress. Around 20 percent reported increased tension in their bodies, getting angry quickly, unexpected mood swings or yelling at a loved one. Last year, the study Stress in America 2021: Stress and Decision-Making During the Pandemic, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA, found that one in three Americans (32 percent) said sometimes they were so stressed by the pandemic that they struggled to make even basic decisions (e.g., what to wear, what to eat, etc.). Responses showed that millennials (48 percent) were particularly likely to struggle with this when compared with their counterparts (Gen Z adults: 37 percent, Gen Xers: 32 percent, boomers: 14
percent, older adults: 3 percent); as were parents (47 percent) versus non-parents (24 percent). These symptoms and more may stem from stress caused by the pandemic, compounded by other societal stressors. The potential long-term consequences of the persistent stress and trauma created by the pandemic are particularly serious for some of our country’s youngest individuals, known as Generation Z. At the beginning of the pandemic crisis, we were asked to stay in our homes. Many people complained, argued with family members, felt isolated and became depressed. On the other hand, some grew closer together as a family, played games, discovered new activities and turned lemons into lemonade. As humans, we live in a dualistic society, fluctuating between being optimistic or pessimistic, loving or fearful, happy or sad, confused or clear. We also live conditionally, allowing the opinions of others, the weather and the news to dictate our moods. We believe in our own thoughts and emotions, and allow them to run the show. Unfortunately, people that are frightened and anxious cannot think or act very clearly. Those thoughts can overwhelm us so that there seems to be no escape, causing bursts of anger, depression and even suicide. Our ego mind compares, blames and judges everything in our external world. It makes everything separate from itself, and everything that is separate is questionable. We are suspicious and judgmental of the “other”. If they do not agree with us, they are not our friend. Fear fans the fire of the ego. When we allow the ego to run the show, we forget our divine truth and our light becomes eclipsed by a mind storm. Seekers of truth view this event as a tremendous opportunity to go within and awaken to what is real. They are aware and can witness their thoughts. They know thoughts have no power by themselves. They can witness and remain detached. They see how quickly it comes and goes. They allow it to pass like a cloud. The truth is that we were consciousness before we formed this body/mind identity. Being a witness allows a higher conscious view. We can see through the fearful thought.
