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Learning from the Wisdom of our past #74
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A weekly look at Wisdom from the past applied to today.
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If you received this from a friend please sign up at BobBarnardnm.com
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Please share this with your friends so we can encourage others to consider wisdom.
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Thoughts on the intersection of Society/Culture, Productivity/You, and Wisdom/Knowledge.
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Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom – and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech. Benjamin Franklin
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This was a strange week. Except for those errands and physical therapy appointments, I was pretty much housebound. The spring winds have been fierce this year, and the air has been dusty and dirty.
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The wisdom quotes for this week are:
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Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.
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John Wooden, “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”
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Fear is the watchword for the US and the world. We have no clue as President Trump continues to be unpredictable. But what does that mean? Should I live in fear, be paralyzed by it and do nothing except wait for the next dictum? No, the author of our quote says that everything we want is on the other side of fear. There will be life after Trump.
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Winston Churchill said, 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' Thus, how we react to fear permeates our lives and can be debilitating. The news is all about making us fearful. Fear and blood sell stories. But we must live knowing that we can overcome or outlast fear. We have to keep in the front of our minds what we can control (our fear) and what we can't: let go.
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Overcoming fear involves acknowledging it and then taking proactive steps to manage it. Managing our fear means managing how we react to it. This includes identifying the fear, challenging our negative thoughts, practicing relaxation techniques, and gradually exposing ourselves to the feared situation. Here are some steps to consider:
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1. Understand and Acknowledge Your Fear:
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What is the source of your fear. The lion rushing at you ready to leap or is it a news story about something that may or may not happen in Washington. If it is the lion run, if not ignore it.
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2. Challenge Negative Thoughts and Assumptions:
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It is up to you you to challenge and control your thoughts. Fear is an emotion that messes with the mind you control. Question the source of the fear and the assumptions that you need to be fearful.
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3. Practice Relaxation and Mindfulness:
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A good way to learn to control your mind is to practice relaxation techniques and learning to control your mind through mindfulness practices.
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4. Gradual Exposure and Facing Your Fears:
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If your fear is something you don't like or want to do then find a safe environment and just do it. You will most likely find that it wasn't s bad as you thought and the more you do it the less fearful you will become.
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5. Seek Support and Resources:
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If you hate public speaking consider joining toastmasters and learn to speak in public in that friendly environment. If you hate snakes, as my wife did then have kids and they will help you conquer that fear.
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6. Self-Care and Building Confidence:
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Conquering your fears is up to you. The best thing I have found is if you are asked to do something, just say yes, and you will be surprised how the fear of the unknown goes away.
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What are your biggest fears?
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Do you let them incapacitate you, or do you face them?
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Remember that your fear isn't the worst thing that can happen; doing nothing is.
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Consider your list of fears and pick one to work on.
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Put together a plan to address the first fear and then banish it.
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Consider how you can have a more peaceful mind without being fearful.
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