Recognize fear as a warning when it arises. Don’t try to dismiss it or force it out. Slow down, examine why you’re fearful and honestly face the threat, says Dr Rick Levy
Fear is rampant in today’s society. You should resolve to banish fear from your life because of its highly destructive nature. If unchecked it will paralyze your efforts to succeed and eventually cause illness in your mind and body. Moreover, chronic fear generates negative energy, infecting society and serving only to attract more fear. To deal with fear effectively, first recognize it as a warning when it arises. Do not try to dismiss it or tough it out. Slow down long enough to examine why you are fearful and honestly face the threat. The best antidote for fear is vidya — the virtuous forces that work to lead us into God by promoting the nobility of every person and the oneness of humankind. So to heal yourself from fear, start by doing things that make you feel secure and bring you love and happiness. Reconnect with family and friends. Make a determined effort to reach out to others in heartfelt compassion, and even consider doing a little public service. You’ll feel much better, and simultaneously help shift the societal energies away from avidya (disunity) into vidya (unity and compassion). The most effective way to banish fear is to meditate. Even a little daily meditation (15 minutes) will heal you from fear. Meditation has been scientifically proven to produce the opposite of the human stress response:
Blood pressure goes down
Circulation is equalized throughout the vital organs
Immune functioning is elevated
Breathing and heart rate are slowed and
Brain waves relax to produce a peaceful mental euphoria Meditation has these effects because it brings you into conscious awareness of your soul (Atman), which is eternal, blissful, all powerful and impervious to threats of any kind. As often as you meditate, you will train your mind to focus constantly on the highest of vidyavirtues — your unity with God — at which point, fear will cease to exist.
