Fear

The negative response to fear is the desire to be away from what is fearsome. The trouble with this response is that in indulging it the ego quickly learns that it has useful consequences: the world can be selfishly manipulated by meanly pulling away from it, especially the world of relationships (ultimately the only world there is). Sulking, moodiness, arrogance, neediness, etc, are all devices designed to empower the perpetrator by causing anxiety in others – sucking good energy without giving much in return, and they all originate in basic cowardice – turning away from fear and pain.

The positive response to fear is not just to face it but to dive into it with all one has. In this way fear dissolves and we realise it was only fear – a figment of our imagination. In certain situations this is easier to do than in others of course, but it always works. The most difficult situations are the ones we are unaware of – where the fear is so ingrained it is no longer registered. Each of us is riddled with such fears, but as long as we choose to choose courage instead of cowardice then life will point them out to us, one by one, little by little, slowly but surely.

Put another way. Fear is a refusal to communicate. Communication requires connexion followed by two-way energy flow – central equilibrium (a fearful situation is one out of equilibrium). If connexion is good then energy will naturally flow. So fear either disconnects or refuses to connect. Disconnexion means your world shrinks. Refusing an invitation to connect maintains the status quo. So a world free of fear is always growing.

Comments (1)

 John said...

Excellent post. I really like the way you boiled this down. It's a great reminder for all of us to use what we learn from our tai chi practice out in the real world.

John Crewdson
www.camptaichi.com  

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