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Fear
daywalker:
--- Quote from: youthfortruth on January 17, 2009, 07:48:29 PM --- I'm sure many of you have noticed the arctic blast of cold many parts of the country (including my area) have gotten hit with. Today the temps remained in the low to single digits all day. Yet, I'm not the least bit fazed when going out. I don't wear any kind of Coat, Hat, Gloves, nothing of the sort. Simply a fleece with a T shirt underneath. People in school and elsewhere have said things along the lines of:
"Your Crazy!!, What's up with you??!?! Aren't you cold??"
It doesn't sway my mood in any form. I'm not trying to put on a tough guy image or anything of that sort it's just that having been exposed to those kind on temps all my life. I'm used to it. The endurance aspect kinda reminded me about ways to handle fear. Practically the strategy of facing fear head on again and again. The principle is similar to that of being exposed in the cold constantly. The more you do it the easier it becomes to tolerate. In rehab we called it "habituation". This is by NO means the most pleasant tactic in combating fear but I've found it most effective, personally.
That being said, How do you all handle fears? I know that question may seem kind of broad but has anyone else noticed a powerful and/or positive outcome of taking that approach? or do you have a less extreme way of handling light and heavy fears?
Peace as always!!
-Andrew
--- End quote ---
Hello Andrew,
In my experience, the best defense against 'fear' has been 'playing ignorant'. Convincing myself that I'm not afraid, then I don't have to think about 'fear' and so it doesn't affect me. But when fear does affect me, it is hard to combat. But it also pushes me to strive harder, so it isn't necessarily a bad thing to me anymore, sometimes I 'invite' it.
Funny, I still remember all those nights I went to sleep, in fear that I might wake up in Hell! [And I was a 'Christian' all my life, albeit not a 'good' one] Though I believed in Christ, I still feared that He was going to send me to Hell because though I went to church every Sunday, I excelled in the life of sin Monday through Saturday...
But that's long over! And there ain't nothing that can send me back into that Bottomless Pit! :o
Here's to Life After Babylon, ;D
Daywalker.
OBrenda:
--- Quote from: youthfortruth on January 17, 2009, 07:48:29 PM ---Practically the strategy of facing fear head on again and again. The principle is similar to that of being exposed in the cold constantly. The more you do it the easier it becomes to tolerate. In rehab we called it "habituation". This is by NO means the most pleasant tactic in combating fear but I've found it most effective, personally.
That being said, How do you all handle fears? I know that question may seem kind of broad but has anyone else noticed a powerful and/or positive outcome of taking that approach? or do you have a less extreme way of handling light and heavy fears?
Peace as always!!
-Andrew
--- End quote ---
Hi Andrew, ;D
Sounds like the "habituation" is a process that desensitizes you to fear,
in that you experience you are well and able to endure it. You are still safe.
I think this is how we find trust and faith in God, beyond our circumstances.
People who are poor financially, have greater faith that God will provide when their option have run out.
So the more time we face a spider/elevator/ladder etc. the more experience we have to quiet these fears!
Funny you mentioned cold...
When I was a child my Dad (ex-navy) would make me keep myself awake on long trips in the car. I would be greatly annoyed, but he would explain that I needed to have mental strength to overcome things like sleepiness in the cold. And that one day it could save my life. (hypothermia)
So I learned and do press through the discomfort of my flesh, (in most areas) to get the job done. In the military your actions and strength effect all those with you. I now try to apply this to my spiritual walk, and see us all growing up into being all in all in God's time and grace! It is God who gives us these weakness to bless us with the knowledge that he is in control of all his creation.
Hope that made sense,
Brenda
smeacham:
That won't work with my kids. They'll say "ok" and start snoring in the same breath.
Steve
acomplishedartis:
hi Andrew!
I had enjoyed your post.
About fears, first i try to figure out if its a simple supposition or based on reasonable evidence, well at list I try. (i am personally not very fast at this).Once you know you tried your best, it's more easy to endure it.
About heavy, heavy fears we just tend to instinctive react...
it sounds board but it must be part of this 'habituation', right?
moises
Marlene:
Hello, Psalm 23 really seems to help me with fear. But, I also believe like Brenda the more trials we have the more experience we get. For me I just wish the more trials I experience I would just get it in my head to trust God in all the situtations . It sure does make it harder on a person not to just trust and go through the storms with total trust. I know God has sure been patient with me. I just wish it would sink in to my head and heart.
Well, the world is full of fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the known. All, you have to do is turn the tv on. Listen to what people talk about it is usually about fear. Fear of the weather, fear of loss of jobs and homes this and that. Fear of our health. Fear of anything else our mind can imagine. Even, Babylon teaches us fear.
Now, just trusting in who is control is the thing. I am glad God is patient because fear is a hard one for me. We don't have free will for sure, we have choices made from our environment and life experiences. God knows what we will do before we do it.
I just pray every day teach me to trust. I believe we need to look back at what he has brought us through. I thank God and am wanting so badly to have that total peace from fear. I know fear is sin. Makes me sad to know he does not have my total trust in him. He should have after the things he has taken me through. Just pray for me that I get it. It is not an easy thing to admit to fear. But, it sure does humble a person.
In His Love,
Marlene
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