Reflections

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  1. Cathie
    Cathie
    1 day ago

    I do believe there can be a moment when “fear” in the normal the circumstances of life no longer shadows you.
    Grateful Living has been a helpful resource and community that reminds me how to live in the present with a grateful/thankful/loving heart.
    However, my turning point for departure from fear was reading the book “On Becoming a Musical Mystical Bear,” by Mathew Fox. Reading this book coincided with my entry into contemplative prayer, and one day I realized fear and anxiety were just gone, they no longer surfaced in my being.
    I do not know if fear would surface again if confronted with a terrible situation, but in my everyday life, I am free.

    1. Elizabeth H67151
      Elizabeth H
      23 hours ago

      What an intriguing book title, Cathie! I shared it with my husband, because he likes Mathew Fox (years ago he went to a conference that was led live by Mathew Fox and found it very meaningful), and my husband also thinks of the bear as kind of his spirit animal.

  2. Antoinette88615
    Antoinette
    2 days ago

    Im grateful for my fears and anxiety because they have been the compost that has helped me grow. The meditation of letting go of the false self has helped me to become truth and for that I’m eternally grateful.

  3. sparrow51014
    sparrow
    2 days ago

    I keep my fears
    in a little box in a drawer
    in my bedside table . . .
    rarely,
    but sometimes
    they rattle around to let me know they are still there.

    Practicing and learning to be grateful
    has been a life changer for me,
    moreso than almost any other transition in my time here on this planet–
    at least in a positive direction.
    Most of the dramatic transitions have headed towards the negative . . .
    that’s what makes gratefulness so astonishing.
    While so many things seem to fall apart,
    I can sit in the middle of it all
    and be thankful.
    Not every day,
    but most days.

    I have a new perspective on life . . .
    in 10-15 years
    the other side will probably call for me,
    so I need to pack in all the gratitude I possibly can
    to take with me on my journey,
    which reminds me
    to do the best that I can with what I have while I’m here
    to stave away the fears.
    Gratitude reminds me to be joyful
    for what lives in me now,
    and to be true to it
    the best I can,
    and give those worry dolls my fears.

    Yes,
    I still fear,
    but I’m, starting to trust,
    and to feel more protected
    in my armor of gratefulness. ♥

    1. Cathie
      Cathie
      1 day ago

      Sparrow, your comment, “ so I need to pack in all the gratitude I possibly can
      to take with me on my journey,” reminds me of 1 tai chi move in the long form just prior to the end. There is a move where you bring your leg up and slap your foot. I have forgotten the name of the move but it symbolizes letting go of everything you don’t need for the journey, and keeping only the things you do need.
      Gratitude is a keeper:)

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        1 day ago

        I see the connection in what you are saying,
        dear Cathie,
        and had to smile . . .
        the sentence and the Tai Chi move
        perfectly express each other. 🙂
        Thank you.

  4. Brian
    Brian
    2 days ago

    I think so. In general, more peaceful.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      2 days ago

      In general,
      dear Brian,
      me too. ♥

  5. Ose
    Ose
    2 days ago

    I don´t know if being grateful has made me less fearful, but I guess it has, and for sure it has helped me to face it once fear arises to my awareness and to less trying to escape it.
    A few days ago while attending a very insightful seminar on sensual awareness, to my surprise I was gifted with sensing that when consciously letting go of control through the eyes even when having eyes closed, that I was much more in balance and just feeling secure to balance on an imagined low wall with eyes closed (the exercise was to do so like we probably all did as a little child but with eyes open then, of course). I was totally surprised about this clear sensation and insight and it made me happy. I guess it might have profound correction on my perspective and dealing with my fears. There IS something in me that feels secure, there is something inside that knows I am capable of finding balance in life, there is something inside i rely on without having been really aware of. There IS trust which, almost paradoxically, is there when letting go of controlling of how i am in this world. May be even for the first time since ages, i felt trust being there inside naturally. No mind construct but just experiencing basic trust. The problem is my controlling out of fear, creating fear…
    Recently during a deep regression where I was held as a baby consoled and helped while being in a desperate state, the resulting closing wound and trust was as surprising and healing. How deeply grateful i am for these experiences. Thank you, dear Christine, thank you, dear kindred heart, and thank you, life and Love.

    1. Elizabeth H67151
      Elizabeth H
      23 hours ago

      What an interesting exercise they had you do during the seminar, Ose! Thank you for describing it. I just tried it out myself, and I did feel a type of trust inside me and a tingly, alive feeling in my lower legs and feet.

    2. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      2 days ago

      The way you describe it,
      dear Ose,
      makes me think that you are healing
      and overcoming . . .
      I’m grateful that you value these special experiences
      and hold them in your heart
      with reverence. ♥

  6. Mary
    Mary
    2 days ago

    I frequently get some anxiety in the evening.
    When I remember to think about the things in my life
    that I am grateful for, my anxiety usually subsides.
    Besides being good preventative medicine,
    gratefulness is often the best medicine. 🥰

    1. Elizabeth H67151
      Elizabeth H
      23 hours ago

      I am so glad that you have found a helpful remedy to this evening anxiety, Mary! I find that my anxiety and fears are often worst at night as well. I have a mental practice I do as falling asleep that helps me with this, and I bet that thinking about things I am grateful for would also be helpful.

  7. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    2 days ago

    Yes, I think practicing gratitude has helped me live with less fear. By keeping my perspective in balance, the negative and fearful thoughts and emotions are countered by thoughts gratitude.

  8. Carol Ann Conner
    Carol Ann Conner
    2 days ago

    I don’t know if it has made me less fearful. Fear can still raise its head. I just don’t nurture it as I once did because i have learned to trust life.

  9. Carla
    Carla
    2 days ago

    Developing the principle of Living gratefully has helped me to deepen the practice of trusting Infinite Divine and not my finite self. When walking through recent significant tragedies (Annunciation shooting) and sudden loss of dear friend “CAZ,” my centeredness gets wobbly. I am very grateful to the many of you here who’ve reached out to provide supportive words and experiences to console me. Each is a reminder of “We are not alone.” May you find quiet and restful time in this day. 🫶🏽☮️

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      2 days ago

      I’m happy to hear,
      dear Carla,
      that you have balancers in your life
      who remind you
      that you are not alone . . .
      you’ve experienced two traumas
      in a very short period of time . . .
      don’t forget to be kind to yourself too.
      I hold you with tenderness in my heart
      with love . . . ♥
      sparrow

    2. Mary
      Mary
      2 days ago

      May you find quiet and restful time as well, Carla. ♥️

  10. pkr29022
    pkr
    2 days ago

    Yes, living gratefully has made me less fearful.
    I see my blessings & abundance everywhere. I have witnessed firsthand that the Universe guides & provides. I am safe & supported.
    The Universe loves me. I need not fear.
    🕊️♥️

  11. Barb C
    Barb C
    2 days ago

    I’m not a fearful person to begin with, so no, not really. I believe most people are mostly good even in these times, and I believe we get back the energy we put out into the world. I’m naturally friendly, smiley, and helpful. I get a lot of smiles and offers of help when I need it.

    I’m sometimes in places that I know some people might respond to with a level of fear, such as riding my bike down the street where a lot of people are sitting with their belongings because they don’t have anywhere else to be. My response is compassion, not fear.

    I need to add that the identities I carry that are visible to the world are mostly ones with privilege, aside from being a woman. I don’t know what it’s like to move through the world with a skin color that draws sidelong glances or outright hatred. I don’t speak with an accent that makes someone ask where I’m from. I don’t have a disability that leads some to think I’m somehow less competent.

    I do know what it’s like to be uncomfortable walking alone at night and gratefulness doesn’t do anything to reduce that. On that point of fear that results from the potential for violence from men, I remember when someone asked on Twitter what women would do if there were no men in the world. One of the top answers was “go for a walk alone at night.” I’m especially fortunate to live in a town and neighborhood where I can feel safe doing that, thanks to being able to afford the home we live in.

    I’ve mostly been very fortunate and feel it’s my responsibility to pay it forward by creating welcome for all and reducing the reasons to fear.

  12. Elizabeth H67151
    Elizabeth H
    2 days ago

    Grateful living has given me some added tools to bring my mind to the present moment and shift perspective if I am getting caught up in worries or anxious thoughts.

  13. Yram
    Yram
    2 days ago

    I am not sure I will get rid of the “what if’s” or apprehension but I feel I am better at accepting and enjoying.

  14. L
    Loc Tran
    2 days ago

    Yes. My ability to win hearts flies under the radar. Whatever happens in the backstage stays in the backstage. Discussions must be approached deliberately. This backstage political mastery has helped me deal with incompatible people heads on.
    Tracy, my sister-in-law, who I mentioned before, is both strict and tough. Productivity is her core value. She’s like another Paw Mu on the surface. Both mean well but with incompatible techniques for me. What makes Paw Mu’s tough love feel more tolerable is that she and I come from the same root of well-being. More importantly, I’ve always learned from my mistakes which is why I’m able to deal with Tracy more effectively.
    Family is what I have going for me concerning Tracy. I only speak my mind in group settings, because I already know I have people like Ngoc and my mom and even my dad, sometimes, to back me up. Knowing that Tracy has power over me both from the Asian and American angles of age and productivity, I keep my mouth shut and just obey her when it’s just her and me, because it’s fighting a losing battle. I obey to have my way.
    I learned obedience out of power dynamics from my former boss, Tyson. I use to play piano at a bar for him every Thursday until his business declined out of economic issues. The bar was close to Menards in Brooklyn Park where I play today and every Sundays, but that’s another story for another day. Back to the backstory on Tyson obedience.
    Tyson told me in March of 2024 that there were copyright laws gone into affect. I could only play music 1928 and before. He was certainly unhappy and vented to me, and I don’t blame him for all the f bombs he tossed over the copyright rules. I love classical music, but I don’t like to be restricted to just that either. There was nothing we could do about it, so we obeyed. Therefore, when Tracy’s talking to me like a mom, I have the Tyson reference to build off of. Again, we have the pipeline building method. Work off of giants.

  15. Michele
    Michele
    2 days ago

    I think there will always be fear to some degree … I’m hoping that living gratefully helps me to pause and reflect before reacting.
    Wishing everyone a peaceful relaxing Sunday.
    Go Birds! 💚🦅

    1. Patti
      sunnypatti
      1 day ago

      Great game!! We have a lot of Chiefs fans in my family being from KCMO, but I secretly don’t like them. hahaha! Go Birds!!

    2. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      1 day ago

      And those Birds did!

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