Article about coping and overcoming fear during the credit crunch

Coping with the Credit Crunch - The Fear Epidemic

I wrote about this subject a few months ago but feel it is even more relevant now than ever before. Even though I practise healing and meditation, I don't passively sit on my own planet without an awareness of the fear epidemic that is sweeping nations and how it effects me. The role the media plays in stirring this fear is incredible and whilst they must report truthfully, I'm amazed at how we are bombarded with messages of fear night and day.

Facing your Fears

So how can we cope? If there is one piece of advice I must stress is please don't run away from your fears - face them full on and this article helps guide you. Fear is like a mask that hides the truth. It is crippling and paralysing when we try to ignore it. Facing our fears is the only way we can empower ourselves with the truth.

What is Money?

Money is one of the measures that we use to give value to items and services so that we can exchange these goods and services. If I talk about money in energy terms, it's an exchange of energy - eg, you give money (energy) for a therapy treatment (energy).

We accumulate energy through our actions (eg salary or investments) but again it's an energy exchange - we invest through action and we accumulate money. If we choose not to work then an imbalance may be present in that there is no energy exchange. Although we may give energy - spend our time - in other ways eg volunteering or raising a family ... also part of the energy exchange.

The credit crunch is fascinating in terms of energy - never has there been a truer example of fear crippling a process - as the banks refuse to release money to each other then there can be no energy exchange and it grounds to a halt. However if we all halt completely then it's like asking the blood in your veins to stop flowing - in other words the body can't survive. But money isn't the only measure we use to value life.

"Only when the last tree has been cut down; Only when the last river has been poisoned; Only when the last fish has been caught; Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten." American Indian Proverb,"

It can seem that the world spirals out of control and that we are at the mercy of events. But as we are part of this 'energy exchange' then we too can have an influence - a positive influence - if we choose not to think/feel and live in fear. We are the only ones who create our fear and therefore suffer from it. No one can undo the fear for us - no one.

You may disagree thinking "how can this be - surely a rich person has a fear free world as they have money". But perhaps this person still experiences fear at the 'thought' of losing money. Fear at the 'thought' of having all this money but even so, not being able to cure an incurable disease such as cancer. So no matter how much money (energy) they have accumulated, they may still experience fear of their thoughts. Our thoughts create our reality - and if we live with fearful thoughts, then a fearful life we will have.

So let us not use money as the measure of all things in our world. It is only one measure of exchanging energy.

Power of the Mind

So if we create our reality through thoughts, then do we think happy thoughts and have a happy life? The short answer is yes. The long answer is that it takes practise. You've probably spent years thinking negative and fearful thoughts - and if we imagine each one is like a small pebble in a stream - then the dam building is going well! But when we counter each negative thought with a positive one - then we at least don't add any more pebbles. If we have more positive thoughts then negative - then we start to remove the pebbles from... let's call it 'the dam of fear' that we have created.

But where to start? People can sometimes feel at the mercy of their thoughts but that is only a thought! Each and everyone of us can, step by step, alter our perception of reality by affecting our thoughts. The power of our mind - and in particular the power of our thoughts - can both imprison us in fear or liberate us in freedom. What we neglect to ask is "who is the keyholder"? The keyholder is you - through your choices of thought, feelings and action. All are intrisically connected.

Simple Steps

The only clear and safe way I have every come across to halt and reverse this flow of 'negative thought chatter' is through meditation. Meditation gives you the 'tools' to become more aware of your thoughts and objectively assess them. This is the equivalent to facing your fear and then choosing whether to keep it or release it.

As a tutor of Meditation for the past 5 years (and a student for the past 12) I have changed so much in how I think and as a consequence by life has changed too. The reality of my life has changed as my perception (influenced through my thoughts) has changed. I teach these methods frequently but this doesn't mean that I never have days where I don't experience fear - I'm still human. However these are the steps I take when I experience fear:

• First of all I notice my breath - this helps me feel a bit more centred
• Then I take a moment to notice how I'm feeling (angry/sad etc)
• Then I'll focus on what triggered these feelings
• Then I'll become aware of the thoughts that helped create these feelings.
• Then I'll observe the thoughts that created the feelings
• Then I'll work (usually with my breath - eg blowing out/away) to release those thoughts and if possible bring in more positive thoughts.

Okay - this sounds like hard work! But trust me, it's a lot harder work to keep up the thoughts filled with negativity and fear - those are completely draining. I also realise that it isn't always possible to do the above when things are 'kicking off'. But afterwards - use these steps to reflect on what happened. You'll still learn and develop if you do.

Years ago I was tentative about trying these steps, but I started by being persuaded by my Mum - to practise in a meditation group and also using meditation CDs. I learnt Reiki too which seemed to assist with my own meditaton practise and helped keep me grounded in moments that were really challenging. I only suggest these steps because they worked and continue to work for me.

So in these times where fear pervades our society - start with your own fears and work on releasing them. No, you can't change everyone else's fears for them, but if you start with your own... and others do the same ... then eventually, the world will change and become a more peaceful place

Imagine

In the infamous words of John Lennon:

Imagine there's no Heaven, It's easy if you try, No hell below us, Above us only sky, Imagine all the people, Living for today,

Imagine there's no countries, It isn't hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too, Imagine all the people, Living life in peace,

You may say that I'm a dreamer, But I'm not the only one, I hope someday you'll join us, And the world will be as one,

Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can, No need for greed or hunger, A brotherhood of man, Imagine all the people, Sharing all the world,

You may say that I'm a dreamer, But I'm not the only one, I hope someday you'll join us, And the world will live as one,

Now replace the word 'imagine' for 'Think'

For Further Support

There are many meditation CDs and methods out there but as you are looking at our website, let us tell you about what we offer. In addition to a beginner's meditatoin CD, we also have those for more experienced people, for Reiki healing and practise, for children and teenagers too. All are available as CDs or in a mp3 download format (for playing on an IPOD/mp3 player) and can be purchased online. Details on our 'meditation CDs' listing.

If you live in the Edinburgh area, then we run meditation courses for beginner's. We also run a 'heart centre' meditation group for the more experienced too. Details on our 'workshops' listing.

If you live further afield and don't want to purchase a CD/mp3 - then look for a local meditation group - some are connected to religions but even so they are a good way to find somewhere to practise - no matter what you do/don't believe.

And finally - in this time of crippling fear, we do have a 'prosperity CD' we produced to attract abundance. This CD is specifically designed to help you take the simple steps (as above) and help you constructively and positively clear your negative thoughts. Details on our 'meditation CDs' listing.