Fear is not a bad place to start a spiritual journey. | |
— Kathleen Norris | |
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On This Day In: | |
2023 | Blogging / Blogger, Too |
2022 | Most First Steps Start From Here |
2021 | B3: Start By Just Being You |
Everybody Tells Me So (Can’t Buy Me Love) | |
2020 | Never B3 |
2019 | No Small Thing |
2018 | Unsaid And Undone |
2017 | Evidence Of Faith |
2016 | Patience Is A Virtue |
2015 | Slow Faith |
2014 | Not In Any Sense |
2013 | The Circus On TV |
2012 | To Be Stronger |
2011 | Are You Sure? |
Most First Steps Start From Here
March 12, 2022 by kmabarrett
I think a lot of spiritual journey’s start from fear. I know that mine started about a year ago from it ☺️
I interpreted “spiritual journey” in a non-religious sense, so I agree, a lot do…
I hope that having started your journey, you now feel more comfortable to be taking “control” and moving away from whatever you were afraid of. “Fortune favors the bold.”
🙂
Hi Kevin. Thank you!
I was meaning in a non-religious sense as well. I moved away from religion a while back (long story, lol). What made me start my journey was that fear had so much control over me that I would literally panic just sitting down watching tv. I was too afraid to even leave my house at times. It was a fear built up over years of abuse, but the ironic thing was that it didn’t present itself until my life was calm.
So I started finding ways to heal trauma, and that took me on my journey to where I am today.
Am I completely free from fear? No, but it doesn’t control my life like it used to. I still have a lot of healing to do, but my journey is so new and everyday is a learning experience for me.
Not so funny story, lol – the first time that I sat down to meditate I had such a panic attack that I ended up in the hospital for two days. That was crazy!
And why? I’m afraid of silence. There was always ‘silence before the storm’ in those abusive relationships 😕
So, after that, all day every day, for months, I would repeat, “I am happy. I am safe. I am at peace” until it kicked in , and I could sit and be silent.
Anyway, I apologize for rambling, but I love that quote also ❤️
Hi Serena,
First off… Thank you for the reply! It is (to me) encouraging that you were able to discuss such a personal experience with a “virtual” stranger. I believe it shows you HAVE made progress beyond the person you used to be and the fear which (also) used to paralyze you. I hope you won’t find this next statement too discouraging: Objects in the rear view mirror are not as close as they appear; but, they are still there. Each day is another step away from that past…
I like your mantra! If you’ll allow me to offer two suggestions to accompany it – 1) at least once each day say your mantra while looking at a mirror and smile the biggest, happiest smile you can and hold it for five seconds; and, 2) sometime during the day (it doesn’t have to be the first or last thing in the day) play the happiest music / song you know and have a dance. I know the suggestions sound a bit crazy, but try them every day for two or three weeks… The prolonged act of smiling and seeing yourself smile BOTH release chemicals in the brain which increase happiness (very much like an after exercise “high”). The same thing applies to music and dance. It doesn’t matter if the music is fast or slow or the dance is stylized (“real”) dance or “crazy” hopping around. The music is outside of yourself and you are opening yourself up to it. Like I said, I know they sound “crazy”, but I’ve found they work for me.
Finally, I’m glad you enjoyed the quote and you never need apologize for rambling. One of my own mottos is: “The honor is to serve!”
Stay safe,
Kevin
Thank you for the suggestions, Kevin! ☺️
I do dance for at least 5 minutes everyday. I took a course a few months back on trauma release and the teacher was mentioning how free movement can make a huge impact on your mood everyday, and it definitely helps a lot. My dance is usually the crazy hopping around one 😅
The smiling in the mirror suggestion is a bit harder for me. Have you seen the photo of me on my main page where my head is down although I’m smiling? That’s how I usually smile – head down. My ex injured me to the point that my smile is semi-crooked, and it’s still difficult for me to deal with, at times. People tell me, you’re beautiful, raise your head and smile proud, and sometimes I do, but….back story….when I first left that relationship I covered all mirrors in my house for 6 months. I couldn’t look at myself because he made me hate who I was that much….but, I can look at myself now and love who I see. I’m not perfect, by any means, but who is, you know?
I’m going to try that smiling in the mirror again tomorrow. Without cringing, or backing away, and see how it goes. After all, that smile is now a part of me, good or bad. Be fearless, right? ❤️
🙂
If five seconds is too long to start off with, try 1 – 2 seconds and work up to 5. I believe 5 seconds is the minimum required for the chemical release to kick in. Although it is said to begin almost immediately, my understanding is that is a trained response after you’ve been doing the fives seconds for a few months. In other words: it gets easier / faster over time (with practice). I guess that’s like most things…
Be fearless!