If you look at most any problem in the world, poverty, war, genocide, environmental destruction, all the biggies, and the smaller ones playground fights, cheating on tests, the FBS bowl selection committee process (!), they all begin with fear. Fear of not getting our fair share, fear of not having enough to go around, fear of the other killing us before we can kill them, fear of job loss or identity loss or disrespect or not having our Mom or Dad love us unconditionally. There is enough to go around, but it is not infinite.
The antidote is mindful courage. Courage to believe in the goodness of others, the abundance of opportunities, the sun rising again tomorrow and the day after that as well. It really is as simple as honest calm present seeing. There can be a large amount of Yang before we finally get back to Yin. But not only do we need the balance of the two, there is no other way to have it. Life flows and ebbs and pendulums swing really wide and even ugly at times. But that wide and ugly swing guarantees a beautiful calming return one day (only to overshoot and head back too wide once again in the other direction)! It is all dynamic, all in motion, all dependent on everything else.
As one who sees all things through the lens of fear this is really challenging. It took me many years to understand this. To understand that the entry point to my victimhood was the infinite unfair threats out there to get me (as I perceived the world). How narcissistic! How childish! How untrue! How dualistic! How painfully unproductive!
Just let your mind wander, ask the big thought experiment questions. Play around with the taboo biggies, the Hitlers, the grotesque wealth inequality on the planet, and the numerous players in the never-ending middle-east morass (Israeiis, Palestinians, Americans, Europeans, civilians, politicians, the victims and the perpetrators, you and I). Put evil aside for a minute, consider the possibility that so-called evil flows primarily from fear. What is each participant in each saga afraid of? How are their actions making their fears either more or less likely to come to fruition? The problems will still be there but maybe a way out of the horrible actions will make itself known. The components of a way forward always involve honesty and bravery and hope not propaganda, fear, and despair. Always look for the helpers. They are there rushing into any disaster. Always return to meditation, presence, hugs, stillness and courage to believe.
Take baby steps. Get your red notebook out as I am going to do right now to write down four things I am grateful for today. If you think of it, try to stop later in the day to remind yourself of at least ten kind things you did that day. You did at least that many I promise. Train yourself, strengthening your compassion and faith for the world will give us plenty of opportunities to use it! The world is kind in that way. Thank you scary world 🙂 I think that will be gratitude number one for today!
