Blog

The path to the fault is in the blamer; Spirit sees nothing to criticize. –Rumi

I had been doing great during Covid until these past weeks when the peaceful demonstrations began. I was completely sympathetic, until the looting, burning, and violence started. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and I began to lose hope.

At that moment, I had forgotten a perennial truth: The only source of goodness lies not in the world, but in our own hearts: the love of God, or spirit, universe (or whatever word you use for a power greater than fear and wrongdoing).

Ending Violence

I believe violence will end only when each person’s heart-center rejects its lure.

That’s a tall order for our planet, right? But we can start now!

I can bring that a force of healing into the world by choosing to align my thoughts, beliefs, and actions with love rather than with fear or hate. Choosing a forgiving, peaceful, stance toward the world’s apparent chaos expands loving healing into the people all around us.

When I’m facing confusion, conflict, or other problems, I begin by honestly admitting that my thinking is distorted by fear. Then, I claim the power to find a new perspective.

Finding A New Perspective

Rumi, the thirteenth-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic, wrote, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right-doing is a field. I will meet you there.”

Looking beyond the contours of the problem leads to a field of new possibilities. It’s a choice between living in the problem and living in the solution.

Living in the problem. Our worries focus our attention on the “rightdoing and wrongdoing” of our situation: We obsess about who was at fault, what we should have said or done, or how a situation should be different. These fears make us tense, often leading to rash actions and damaged relationships.

Living in the solution. When we look “out beyond” these negative thoughts, we find a perspective of peace, hope, and wisdom. This is where the solutions lie.

A Simple Exercise

This technique helps you live in the solution rather than in the problem. It’s a variation on “The Golden Key” published in Power Through Constructive Thinking (free PDF of the entire book) by Emmet Fox, a New Thought leader of the early 20^th century.

Whenever a troubling thought comes to you, gently focus your mind on something that brings you hope or happiness. It may be your higher power, a phrase (“All is well”); a prayer; an image of a beloved child, or a rose. When you revert to worrying, think instead about your positive thought. Make the switch as often as necessary.

Your thoughts frequently return to the problem in the mistaken belief that this will fix it. Be vigilant and gentle as you teach your mind to instead think about the positive thoughts you’ve chosen.

Soon you will gain a peaceful outlook that leads to wise solutions. You’ll be guided to the right actions; although often you’ll find no action is necessary at all.

Well, I’ve been at it for about 35 years, and I must say, it’s actually working! Even now during the pandemic, I’m trusting that, in spite of so many tragedies, we’re all being taken care of by a source of loving power greater than the current worldly events. That’s a pretty amazing outcome for me, the former “queen of worry.”

How To Transform Fear into Love

I can only say I’m handling these difficulties with peace because I’ve put a lot of work into the following:

• Refraining from self-destructive habits that numb my feelings
• Choosing healthy, growing people as my friends and teachers
• Gathering regularly with people actively working to improve their lives
• Studying and using cognitive, energetic, and spiritual practices to overcome my negative, fearful thoughts and beliefs
• Regularly meditating and praying
• Sharing care, strength, and hope with those I love, mentor, and teach
• Regularly acknowledging my limitations as a source of love, and using growth practices to free-up my creativity, courage, and power

This illustration from my book, 50 Ways to Worry Less Now illustrates how to transform a fearful, self-serving life into a generous and satisfying one.

Before growth begins, we’re basically self-centered people, obsessed with a never-enough world. Our focus points outward as we try to compete with, control, and blame others.
As we grow and heal, we turn the arrows inward, taking responsibility for our own choices, beliefs, and actions. The right people and resources appear to help us dissolve our negative patterns, heal the past, and connect with the flow of loving power within us.
As growth continues, we live from our true self. We gain peace, attain our dreams, and direct hope and love outward toward others. From time to time, we look inward to check for and heal any new obstructions to love.

My Own Transformation

Before Growth Began:  My initial instincts were to grab everything I thought I needed through manipulating and controlling others. I was in love for its “high” and its illustion of security; I achieved high grades to boost my status with others; and I used alcohol and drugs to dull the pain of my failed attempts to find happiness through my own will-power. I had no hope of growing and healing as long as I kept numbing my feelings with substances and sex. When I became miserable enough, I finally gave up and sought help from a therapist. Eventually, I quit my self-defeating behaviors and began to grow.

Growing and Healing: My therapist directed me to a 12-step program and, after six months of half-hearted meeting attendance, I finally got a sponsor to help me work the steps. In therapy, I began to uncover and heal many of my old wounds and false beliefs. The 12-step meetings gave me loving, healthy friends, and a practical relationship with what I call a “loving power” (or true self)–a source of wisdom wiser than my self-centered fear.

Continue Growing: Over the past 35 years, I’ve remained clean and sober and grown tremendously. But it hasn’t been easy. In just the right timing, the layers of healing emerged as I faced physical ailments, codependency, sexual abuse, perfectionism, fierce self-sufficiency, and self-doubt. As these challenges appeared, I used the tools I’d learned to transform my fears into courage and power.

Sounds like a lot of work, aye? But guess what???? IT’S FUN! — Way more fun than being at the bar or enmeshed in codependent relationships.

I’ve been happily married to the man of my dreams for 31 years, and I love sharing challenges and victories with my “posse” of about 30 women as we gather together to dance, laugh, and eat pizza. I’m in one group that puts on retreats, another that studies A Course in Miracles, and several 12-step groups. Together, we have all sorts of adventures. But mainly, we GROW together through our honesty, openness, and care for one another.

You CAN transform your life, too, regardless of your past experiences or patterns. Nothing–absolutely nothing–about you is cast in stone. It just takes determination and putting yourself in the right groups with the right tools and teachers.

** I would love to hear how you’re transforming your own fears into loving thoughts and actions. **