Following Your Fears

Any time we consider perceptions that are not in alignment with the fundamental truth, we feel a negative emotional response. Thus negative emotions can be used as a tool to locate what un-true perceptions we are holding onto. If you feel fear when you consider an idea or belief, then follow that fear. See if you can identify what negative self-perceptions or negative perceptions about reality itself may exist as a result of the idea or belief.

When we enter this world, we adopt the constraints that come along with being human. Chief among those constraints is a constraint on our knowledge: we no longer have access to the knowledge of the larger reality systems to which we intrinsically belong. This means that when we consider ideas as humans, we do so from a place of artificial ignorance. The state of not knowing permits us- provokes us, even- to consider possibilities that are frightening to us, and thus gives us the opportunity to experience first-hand a new perspective that would otherwise be impossible for the all-knowing spirit. Sometimes that new perspective we are entertaining is one that is contrary to our true natures- and when that happens, we experience a negative emotional response.

For instance, regarding one of our most prevalent fears: if you consider the idea “what if there is no afterlife?” and you feel fear or resistance as a response, go find out why. Follow the sensations sufficiently and see if you can discover what negative self-perception or negative state about reality itself that belief would mean. If you consider the possibility that no afterlife exists and you are simply destroyed at death- then the resulting self-perception you may be entertaining is one of powerlessness, or non-existence.

But in fact, the spirit is never powerless and cannot not exist. Consciousness can only temporarily buy into those perceptions, and experience the result; it cannot actually fundamentally be powerless or lifeless.

Never-the-less, in our example of the question “what if there is no afterlife?”, it’s likely that in fact you don’t actually know right now if there is an afterlife or not. Note that the state of not knowing itself does not cause discomfort: it is the resulting negative implication we quietly entertain that triggers our fears.

Our fears are meant to be explored. No matter how deep they go the sensations that come with them cannot harm us. In fact, those negative sensations are valuable guideposts that lead us to the untrue perceptions that we have adopted during our human experience!

Permit yourself then to actually welcome your negative emotions as the fear-messengers that they are. Following where they may lead often requires great humility, persistence, and courage, but the pursuit is incredibly worthwhile. Find out what negative self-perceptions or negative perceptions about reality you are buying into. When you find those negative perceptions, spend time with them and with the resulting negative emotions they cause you to feel. Let them rant and rave, hear them out in the now. Feel them. Rather than listening to the story you have spun around them over a lifetime, just allow your awareness to be with the sensations themselves, without judgment. The light of your awareness is powerful: its mere presence, backed by the power of your intent to actually experience your emotions for what they are and to let go of your control, will naturally melt the illusions. With sufficient humility and bravery, it is possible to peek through the ego-structures of our lives sufficiently to see that in fact, everything negative is an illusion; only light and love truly exist!