Sleeping Without Fear

 

Photo Credit: The Healthsite.com

Sleeping Without Fear

I have been told by several people that they are afraid of the dark and hence cannot sleep. I keep telling them that the moment you close your eyes you are enveloped with darkness – that means you will never be able to sleep. Is that the case? The response invariably is, “Not like that, I do get to sleep but I need to put on the light, I am afraid to be alone in the dark.” Or some similar variation.

First, we need to understand ‘fear’ – as Swamiji says fear too is a ‘thought’ which comes to the mind. Fear is a natural flight response to a danger in our surroundings – it is nature’s way of protecting us from impending danger. The problem starts when the fear preys on our mind to such an extent that we start losing sleep over it. We feel that the shadows are creeping in on us and so on – just like in a horror movie! The mind obsesses and produces endless stories, reminding you of the bad things that might happen and creating strategies to avoid them.

Fearful thoughts and emotions take over and obscure the larger truths of life. You forget the love between you and your dear ones; you forget the beauty of the natural world; you forget your essential goodness and wholeness. You expect trouble and are unable to live in the present moment. Brain chemistry and genetics may predispose a person to excessive fearfulness, and it can be fuelled by societal circumstances, such as the perception of a terrorist threat. Traumatic childhood experiences may also give rise to the trance of fear.

When you bring an unconditional divine presence to face fear, you create the foundation for true spiritual awakening. In other words, as you learn to face your fears with courage and kindness, you discover the loving awareness that is your true nature. This awakening is the essence of all healing, and its fruition is the freedom to live and love fully.

With meditation and mindful living, it is easy to control one’s thoughts and quieten the mind, in addition bringing compassion to face the fear helps in its dissipation over a period of time. When it is time to sleep remind yourself that you are not the fear and fear is not you – it is just a thought in your mind and once you face it and watch it, you will find that the fear along with the thought goes away. Then with your eyes shut, lights switched off if you still are fearful, chant any mantra which you are comfortable with – you will notice the next morning that you did not even realise when you fell fast asleep!