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Overcoming Fear
Fear is natural but it
appears to be overwhelming. In dying, as in any other phase of living, it is
normal to feel afraid. Fear is an inbuilt mechanism which warns us about danger
approaching us and it is something that should not be ignored. But when we are
so overcome with fear and we become chronically anxious and worried, then fear
becomes counter-productive. Then it is no longer protecting us but blocking our
ability to live as per our likes.
We can get rid of fear
in several ways or at least reduce it substantially. The first is acceptance –
once we actually face whatever feeling might be troubling us that we can go
beyond it. The moment we stop fighting with what is, miraculously the problems
we had created can disappear. If you still feel afraid even after acknowledging
and accepting your fear then one could take the following steps.
Talk to a good listener
who doesn’t judge you or leap at you with advice. Such a person understands that
by talking about your feelings, those emotions move from the bottom of your
mind into the light of day and that could help you to find some clarity and understand
the fear. This person could be a family member or a good friend.
Osho says that fear
creates a trembling within you and when that happens do not try to repress it,
just tremble. While you are in that phase, sit for meditation and watch the
fear within, observe your mind and the thoughts that are passing through. Allow
whatever is happening to happen and in some time, you will notice that the
feeling has gone away. If you just step back and watch, you see everything from
a detached and different perspective – you are not a part of the problem – then
the picture becomes clear and the fear dissipates.
The trembling has gone,
the cyclone has moved on and you will now find that you are centred, centred as
you were never before. Once you learn how to let things just be, you will have
the master key that opens the inner doors. Then whatever happens, just let it
be, don’t avoid it.
Stay in the present and
meditate regularly. Fear is always something that is to happen in the future – such
as a medical procedure, or being in pain, losing love, or it could be just
dying! The moment you find yourself thinking about some ghastly future scenario,
immediately bring yourself back into the present moment. Do something that gives
you a sense of connection with your body, such as jogging, walking or
exercising. This is because the body can only be in the present and the
activity will keep your roaming mind too in the present.
Meditation helps us in
connecting within – by moving inwards, beyond the mind – to the dimension of
simply being. This no-mind space which is our true nature, once we reach that
state, then fear which anyways is nothing but a
thought, will no longer bother us.
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