One function of thought is to be occupied with something all the time, which prevents us from seeing ourselves as we actually are. We are afraid to be empty. We are afraid to look at our fears!
Primal Wakefulness!
by Keshav Howe | Jun 10, 2023 | Community Insights | 11 comments
I think fear does serve a purpose. It tells us that we have a belief (mind, thought) that has not been looked into. Until we find the belief that has caused the fear it will keep recurring. We cannot do that if “we are afraid of looking at our fears.” So, why do we fear looking at our fears?
My first and subsequent “nervous breakdowns” from 1985 on all had to do with FEAR. “False Experiences Appearing Real.” Never have I ever felt so much fear, not even when seeing a rattlesnake for the first time. It was all about mind hatter that was not real. Fear is truly an ilusion the mind conjures up to control us and keep us from presence and love. That’s my experience.
I am thankful that ptsd has exposed fears fictitious nature. Fear still comes up , but feels more of an annoyance than a reality. Mind seems to forget that annoyance is one hell of a tool to say “I can’t fucking do this anymore”.
Love the post, Joe!
I also find that annoyance is a tell to be present with fear. There it is, we are watching it. Present with it right here and now.
The invitation is to watch the fear without reference to the past or future. With fresh eyes and a fresh and present new mind. Holding our ground and getting to know fear without reference to the past or future.
Who is watching the fear? Is fear itself watching itself? Please don’t guess.
I think fear is an illusion, a product of the mind and not what is watching. I have heard, “who is the one who is watching the watcher? “ Can’t answer that. I can only report my experience as ai understand it.
I was on the roof the other day and when I went to go back down the ladder a thought arose and with it came fear. When I brought my attention to the feel of the ladder in my hands and the swing of my foot to the first rung all fear dropped away. No one was watching the fear at that point as no one was watching at all. There was no watcher, no past, no future, just the sensations of moving through space
Trying to resist anxiety did not work, has never worked and finally, I just sat with this horrendous, agonizing fear. As I focused on the fear, allowing it, watching it, I was not the fear. It slowly dissipated and once I could access the comfort and acceptance that I cannot control my current life circumstances, nor do I need to. For the next 24 hours, I let go of all thoughts regarding things I “should” do including meditating, or other practices, and just be ok with not needing to be in control. My time out gave me time to reset.
My history of avoiding or denying fears that arise results in an irrational fear of being cut off or isolated from others.
I also felt fragmented and confused about how to get rid of the fear, so I could proceed with my so-called made-up life.
Ironically, facing and embracing fear at this moment allows me to feel and embrace the courage at the heart of the dualistic nature of fear/courage.
Excellent post Diane!
I love No 3. Especially as it relates to rattlesnakes in my yard. Fear is of the most bd yet when I come upon them there is no fear just action to move away. It kind of reminds me that when in mind fear I need to move away from mind chatter into the present moment.
We are all afraid of something; there is no fear in abstraction, it is always in relation to something. Here are a few things that I notice about fear:
1. Running away from the psychological aspects (99 percent of all fear) only intensifies it.
2. The movement of thought from certainty to uncertainty; away from unexplored beliefs, and personalized dogmas is the root of Fear.
3. When the mind is totally present and we are confronted by “something,” there is no fear.