GAINING THE GRACE TO DEFY THE FEAR FACTOR

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FEAR IS A FUNNY (PECULIAR) THING. IT IS AN EMOTION THAT TENDS TO PRODUCE A FEELING OR FEELINGS ASSOCIATED WITH ANXIETY. FEAR IS ALSO A SPIRIT, WITH  NO REAL POWER OF ITS OWN! FEAR MUST BE EMBRACED BY US TO AFFECT US. FEAR OPERATES ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SAME COIN THAT CONTAINS LOVE. MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE OPPOSITE OF "LOVE" IS "HATE." THAT IS NOT TRUE! THE OPPOSITE OF "LOVE" IS "HURT." THE OPPOSITE OF "FEAR" IS "LOVE." THE OPPOSITE OF "HATE" IS "IGNORANCE." IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE TERM "OPPOSITE" CARRIES FAR MORE SIGNIFICANCE THEN JUST AN ANTONYM WITHIN THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM. MANY SPIRITUAL TRUTHS DO NOT NECESSARILY FOLLOW NATURAL LINEAR LOGIC OR RATIONALE. IN PHYSICS, LIKE FORCES REPEL ONE ANOTHER AND OPPOSITES ATTRACT, BUT IN THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM "LIKES" ATTRACT AND BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER. IT IS OUR REPEATED HABITS OF BEHAVIORS WHICH FACILITATE THE FAMILIAR SPIRITS THAT EMBED THEMSELVES IN OUR PERSONALITIES. IN MANY WAYS WE ARE LIVING, WALKING AND TALKING CONTRADICTIONS. IT IS POSSIBLE TO FEEL ONE WAY BUT ACT ANOTHER WAY. WE ARE NOT HYPOCRITES WHEN WE HAVE DIFFICULTIES TAKING CONTROL OVER OUR WANTS AND DESIRES. WE ARE HYPOCRITES WHEN WE FAIL TO CONFESS, ACKNOWLEDGE THEM OR PRETEND THAT THEIR MANIFESTATIONS DO NOT EXIST. THIS IS HOW MANY OF US DEAL WITH OUR FEARS. DENYING OR PRETENDING THAT FEAR DOES NOT EXIST HAS ITS LIMITS. SOONER OR LATER THE FEAR WE DISMISSED WILL HAVE TO BE FACED. FEAR MUST BE EMBRACED AND FACED BY EVERYONE ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS. FEAR HAS MANY USEFUL FEATURES THAT WARN AND PROTECT US IN ADVANCE OF DANGER. FEAR HELPS TO GUIDE US IN OUR PSYCHOLOGICAL DECISION MAKING. FEAR HAS A WAY OF SHOWING UP WHEN WE HAVE DIFFICULTIES DECIPHERING THE MEANING OF AN EXPERIENCE. FEAR HAS MANY DISGUISES INCLUDING BRAVERY, COURAGE AND ANGER. FEAR MOTIVATES BEHAVIORS AT EVERY LEVEL OF OUR EXISTENCE. NEVER-THE-LESS WE SHOULD NOT FEAR "FEAR." ALTHOUGH FEAR IS GENERALLY REGARDED AS AN UNPLEASANT EMOTION IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE. THE FIGHT, FREEZE AND FLIGHT REFLEXES INITIATED BY FEAR ARE DESIGNED TO HELP US RESPOND TO DANGER AND STRESSFUL SITUATIONS. IN THAT FEAR IS ALSO A SPIRIT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE AUTHORITY OVER IT AND NOT ALLOW IT TO RULE OVER US.

ALARM - DREAD - FRIGHT - HORROR - SCARED

Fear never works alone. As a spirit it needs our acceptance and our permission to express itself. This is generally manifested in behaviors that stem from feelings that we think we should be experiencing or expressing. Fear can be personified in avoidance which in turn presents itself as deception. To maintain deception we must embrace acting out a role that spawns anxiety if we are discovered. Anxiety can cause us to lie when truth un-covers us, simply ​because we are so concerned about what others think. In this present context there are THREE types of fear. There is rational fear, primal fear and irrational fear. Rational fears occur where there is a real, imminent threat. Primal fear can be described as an innate fear that is programmed into our brains. Finally,  irrational  fears are the ones that don't make logical sense and vary from person to person. Within these three types of fears there are believed to be SEVEN basic/specific fears. These fears are: 1. fear of success or failure, 2. fear of poverty, 3. fear of criticism, 4. fear of sickness, 5. fear of loss (loved ones), 6. fear of aging and 7. fear of death. To further complicate matters there are TWO distinct but related definitions that "fear" falls under. Fear can be defined in terms of either being afraid or showing respect. The easiest way to categorize fear is to remember that all fear is composed of two primary reactions that are either biochemical, emotional or both. Loss and/or the fear of loss is probably the number one trigger for fear. Loss can amplify fear; whether we lose abilities, balance, finances, health, an occupation, a person or an animal! In the spiritual arena, when fear overwhelms us, fear is usually accompanied by "anxiety." The feeling of fear differs from the "spirit of fear," although they are related they operate in distinct ways. The "spirit of fear" can manipulate the "feelings of fear" against us. Fear has both a source and the "substance" that we must provide to sustain it. Any situation can serve as an original source for fear. Any sense of "lack" can consume our consciousness. The energy fear needs comes from those who embrace it. The "energy of fear" can be manifested in any or all of THREE levels. We can think about it, talk about it and indulge in it. Fear derives its power from the magnitude of our focus on it. Fear is a man made creation. That means that even though it is real it can only exist if we (human beings) want it to. Fear is not matter. Matter cannot be created or destroyed according to the "law of conservation of energy." Theoretically only God can create or destroy matter. It then stands to reason that fear is not matter. If we, humans, can create fear, we can also destroy it. We have power over fear through love, "and perfect love casts out all fear."

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PERMISSION POSTURE PURPOSE AND POWER

Perception is not reality. Perceptions are our own personal interpretations of reality. Reality and truth are generally echoed and verified through witnesses. Fear works in tandem with our processes, procedures, and the purpose behind them. Fear will permit us to pretend and posture as if we are without apprehension. We can deny and/or suppress fear but it is present whenever doubt, questions or uncertainty arises. Life is all about balances. Fear must be balanced by us too. Life is work, people are work and avoidance of work has its roots in fear. In life, most of the things that we do or don't do come with a payoff. Even most altruism comes from self motivation that originates as a moral payoff for achieving an ideal. Pure altruism is more of a goal than a reality. We are hard wired to form most of our behaviors through being motivated by payoffs, that is rewards, whether they are tangible things or intangible as emotions. Being able to recognize what these payoffs are can help us to both motivate actions and deal with the behaviors influenced by fear. This should also cue us in on how to get others to do what they need to do. The payoff represents either our relief from responsibility and the impact that goes with it, or the joy which emanates from fulfilling desires and reaching goals. Everyone of us has a conversation or a dialogue within our heads that empowers us or diminishes our power. The voice of fear may be the loudest one in our heads. Grace is the panacea to all of our failures and shortcomings. When our relationship with fear is contingent upon our own merit sooner or later we'll fall victim to our own imperfections. When our relationship with fear is based on grace our "fear" of fear is delegated to trust in faith. These spiritual opposites, faith and fear, are the balances we must use to apply power with purposeful perspective. Anxiety is the fear of the future and depression is a fear of the past. Fear operates in the present and is a powerful tool of both warning and respect. Fear has two close cousins named "pride" and "shame" that work on either side of how we feel. Fear and its "senses" can surface unexpectedly and should be interpreted wisely. Many of us find it easier to remain in a state of denial than to deal with our fears. Unleashing fear allows "it" to use us. Controlling fear allows us to use "it" as a tool. Like any other energy "it" must be harvested, harnessed and channeled properly. Fear will always be a factor, but it should not dominate our behavior or control our decisions. When our faith is personified we will discover that although there is much to fear, we are not afraid.

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