I have seen a lot of fear going around lately. One thing you have to remember about fear is that left “unchecked”, fear can take over your life. It’s THAT powerful.
BUT I know the secret to avoiding the “Fear Trap”, and its FAITH. You have to face each and every obstacle with courage, knowing that better is on its way. I realize sometimes it can be hard to just “have faith”, and when I find that my own is being elusive, I do a few simple things that restore it.
Connect with nature: I love the outdoors. Not just because of beautiful surroundings, but because everywhere around me are reminders that there is something so much bigger than our immediate problems…no matter how bad things are. The strongest tree came from a tiny seed that was planted in the ground. It sprouted in the dark and had to push and fight its way to the sun to continue to grow. It probably faced fires and Florida hurricanes all through the years, but it’s still standing, and stronger than it ever was. This reminds me that we grow in the dark times, and often, there’s something so much better coming.
Listen to Music: Music soothes the soul, and sometimes that’s just what I need. The right music can DESTROY those fearful thoughts and replace them with joy. I have a playlist of all the songs that make me happy. When I start feeling fearful, I pop on my headphones and blast all my happy songs. I sing as loud as I can, dance around the house (or the beach…wherever I am) just find my joy. This helps remind me that just like fear, obstacles are temporary.
Share and connect with others: People need people. Dogs are awesome, but if I feel fear sneaking in ready to cause chaos, I need a little more than kisses from my Labradoodle Matilda. I turn to my family and friends. When things don’t make sense, the people I decide to surround myself with make all the difference. I try to keep my crew positive because negativity feeds fear. I also share with others outside my immediate circle. I share my style and it makes me happy when people engage with me and I can help someone find something cute to wear. Sharing good vibes is a great way to combat fear and gives me that “everything’s going to be okay” feeling.
Go to Church: The ultimate defender, the cure, the restorer, also known as church. I just can’t stay fearful after a good Sunday morning. It’s not possible. God’s word is not only comforting, it literally gives you the answers. Knowledge is power and knowing that there are bigger plans at play is a game-changer. Hello Faith, Goodbye Fear.
The Fear Trap is hard to escape but easy to avoid…if you just keep the faith!