Release Fear and Awaken to the Dance
Beneath every negative emotion is fear.
Every psychological fear blocks us in some way from receiving the guidance we need to find peace and know the best action to take. Without fear, we can stop saying, “What’s wrong with me?” and begin to say, “What can I learn from this experience?” Self-judgment has no value. Without it, we can reflect on a situation and gain insight and inspiration.
We all have moments when we feel we are not good enough or have handled a situation badly. Our inner critic recites the long list of our deficiencies, blaming us for every experience that did not manifest in the way we wished. We may be, in fact, very compassionate in our interactions with others, but forget to offer ourselves the same kind of consideration. To awaken to the dance of life completely, we must have this compassion for ourselves.
Wholeness, the Gift of Accepting Who We Are
One of the most profound ideas I have ever read comes from Oneness by Rasha. “Those moments when you judge yourself most harshly and in which you feel you let yourself down are the moments most deeply yearned for as a soul. For, in the moments you look back upon with regret—the ones that conjure up within you the most profound humiliation in your own eyes—are the moments for which you chose a human incarnation.” (p. 237) “And in your embracing of all that you Are—and in your acceptance of all that you are not…is the unconditional gift of wholeness that awaits you.”(p. 238)
We do not have to be perfect to be whole. If we had reached a level of consciousness where we no longer needed to learn lessons, we would not be on this earthly plain. It is our ego’s pain and feeling of lack that feeds the fear that we are not good enough. Through the fears that surface, we glimpse the shadow, that darker side of our unconscious, and we are able to see the issues we need to address.
How To Release Self-Judgment
Last week I tried to communicate with a friend by email. It was clear he had misunderstood something I said and he seemed to be avoiding the issue. I was frustrated, thinking, “What have I done wrong here?” After pacing the floor a bit, I released my fear that I had offended him and asked, “How can I best bring peace to this situation?” I felt calmer, and in a moment, a positive, light energy rose in my body, and I knew I needed to call him and arrange to talk face to face. When I called, he eagerly suggested we meet for lunch. As a result, we had a wonderful, open talk and parted with peaceful feelings toward one another.
When we find ourselves in these self-critical modes, we need to look beneath the surface issue and ask, “What is it I fear?” Then, we need to release the fear, so that our minds are not busy coping with the fear. Once we have released the fear, the mind feels clear and we can ask, “What is the best way to solve this problem?” or “How can I create peace out of this discord?”
When we do this, we shine light on our darkness. We become open to identifying the lesson we need to learn. Inner guidance will appear to guide us in the best direction. Free of fear, we are able to let go of self-judgment.
Finding Inner Peace Beneath the Fear
Evaluating and revising is a helpful learning process. We all have to explore and experiment in order to learn. Sometimes we will find the right answer; sometimes we won’t, but being afraid to try a new approach blocks our ability to learn. With these fears released, we can find solutions and awaken to the peace that lies beneath our fears. When we are able to accept all these parts of ourselves, we will experience wholeness.
What fears do you need to release? How do you find peace?
© 2011 Georganne Spruce
If you are interested in my upcoming “Release Your Fear” workshop on September 18 when I teach a specific technique for releasing your fear, see my Workshop page. Advanced registration is not required. All are welcome.
Related Articles: Spiritual Practices: Shadow, Shadow Exercises
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Awakening to the Dance 