Confronting the fear of change
For many, this period of history will be remembered as a time of enormous change; as a time to re-examine much of what has been learned about the history of these United States; the history of the use of race, gender, financial status and other constructs to determine individual and collective worth. Some are responding to the insistent invitation with a sigh of relief. The sigh of relief is expelling many generations of bile; the bile resulting from being forced fed suffocating lies. Others are responding with angry denial which attempts to hide the fear; the fear of not knowing who one is if one is not the more deserving. If one listens one might hear such statements as: “There is no such thing as racism. We are not a violent nation. While male privilege is a myth. Anyone can achieve “the American dream. There is no glass ceiling.
If any of us tell ourselves lies often enough we begin to believe them. We are then no longer lying. At least one is no longer consciously lying. The truth teller than is accused of being the liar and must be stopped. After all, one cannot function with lies being the foundation.
It is not surprising many countries are experiencing a sense of polarization which has previously been relegated to those who never had the temporary luxury of living the lies.
As long as passionate fear is the ruling force, the polarization will continue to increase. I am reminded of an relaxation exercise during which one leans into the tension until finally one reaches that stage of tenseness which feels as if one is going break. Yet, what happens is the area of tension becomes so tight that it is forced to let go.
Instead of resisting or attempting to rid ourselves of fear, it is time to lean into it. Only by learning into it will we begin to reach a point of release.
No matter how it feels, we are all stronger than our fear. None of us will break from leaning into fear. We will be broken if we continue to attempt to hide from the fear; if we continue to attempt to rest on the foundation of lies.
Regardless of the imperfect and often corrupt institutions which distort the teachings of wise men and women, we are well served by returning to their simple, sage reminders. Such is the case with some of the teachings attributed to Jesus. For example, in the New Testament verses of John 8:31-32. (ESV) “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him,
‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” One can find similar statements from all wise teachers. Socrates said, “Know thyself.” This reminder was inscribed on the pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi along with “nothing to excess” and “surety brings ruin. In taking the risk of knowing oneself one faces the lies one has told oneself. Only then does one experience real freedom.
This is true for all of us as individuals, organizations and nations.
This time in history can be viewed as a frightening time or as a time for the possibility of freeing ourselves from the lies which have kept all of us prisoners for far too long. It is patently true that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. We are not the fear which attempts to imprisons us in the historic lies of sexism, racism, homophobia and all the other restricting labels.
Written November 10, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
For many, this period of history will be remembered as a time of enormous change; as a time to re-examine much of what has been learned about the history of these United States; the history of the use of race, gender, financial status and other constructs to determine individual and collective worth. Some are responding to the insistent invitation with a sigh of relief. The sigh of relief is expelling many generations of bile; the bile resulting from being forced fed suffocating lies. Others are responding with angry denial which attempts to hide the fear; the fear of not knowing who one is if one is not the more deserving. If one listens one might hear such statements as: “There is no such thing as racism. We are not a violent nation. While male privilege is a myth. Anyone can achieve “the American dream. There is no glass ceiling.
If any of us tell ourselves lies often enough we begin to believe them. We are then no longer lying. At least one is no longer consciously lying. The truth teller than is accused of being the liar and must be stopped. After all, one cannot function with lies being the foundation.
It is not surprising many countries are experiencing a sense of polarization which has previously been relegated to those who never had the temporary luxury of living the lies.
As long as passionate fear is the ruling force, the polarization will continue to increase. I am reminded of an relaxation exercise during which one leans into the tension until finally one reaches that stage of tenseness which feels as if one is going break. Yet, what happens is the area of tension becomes so tight that it is forced to let go.
Instead of resisting or attempting to rid ourselves of fear, it is time to lean into it. Only by learning into it will we begin to reach a point of release.
No matter how it feels, we are all stronger than our fear. None of us will break from leaning into fear. We will be broken if we continue to attempt to hide from the fear; if we continue to attempt to rest on the foundation of lies.
Regardless of the imperfect and often corrupt institutions which distort the teachings of wise men and women, we are well served by returning to their simple, sage reminders. Such is the case with some of the teachings attributed to Jesus. For example, in the New Testament verses of John 8:31-32. (ESV) “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him,
‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” One can find similar statements from all wise teachers. Socrates said, “Know thyself.” This reminder was inscribed on the pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi along with “nothing to excess” and “surety brings ruin. In taking the risk of knowing oneself one faces the lies one has told oneself. Only then does one experience real freedom.
This is true for all of us as individuals, organizations and nations.
This time in history can be viewed as a frightening time or as a time for the possibility of freeing ourselves from the lies which have kept all of us prisoners for far too long. It is patently true that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. We are not the fear which attempts to imprisons us in the historic lies of sexism, racism, homophobia and all the other restricting labels.
Written November 10, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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