“Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions.” —– Hafiz
To many people unaware of who they are, the main driver of their existence is fear. Yes, as confusing as that may seem . . . the fear of failure, the fear of success, the fear of who they really are once all the masks are removed, paralyze many individuals and make them incapable of functioning. Which begs the question, why is this palpably pervasive in this society? Granted a certain amount of fear is definitely acceptable even understandable to a point, however once it crosses the line permeating how we function it is beyond a casual concern. Joseph Conrad made an interesting observation, “The question is not how to get cured, but how to live.”
Unfortunately, many individuals have not embraced that integral step in their evolution. That step is before them every waking minute of every moment of every day, however being awake is the key word here. We can be awake but not conscious. How can that be you might ask? Look around you, or better yet look in the mirror. That’s right, looking at your reflection and asking a few basic, yet profoundly honest questions may enlighten the unenlightened and inform the uninformed . . . at least momentarily. There is always a catch of course, honesty is the necessary component with this exercise. James Joyce expressed it another way, “Irresponsibility is the pleasure of all art, it is the part the schools cannot recognize.” Which brings us to another question, to fix it, you need to recognize a serious concern or problem exists, most people when left to their own designs or better yet, choices . . . circumvent the decision, delay the work and leave that process for another day, which never arrives.
So what will it be? Confronting those demons that have long inhabited the corners of your mind, experience the beginning of consciousness, present awareness and honesty . . . or a denial that any of this exists? Of course, we all have plenty of time deal with this, or do we? There are no guarantees of time to date, that I am yet aware. However, entertaining fear on a continuing basis exacts a price that we will pay for in one way or another. It may affect our health, family, relationships, careers or a myriad of other entities in our daily lives. The first step is just recognizing the problem, taking responsibility and as Eckhart Tolle suggests . . . “Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness.” JLR