Every day we have plenty of opportunities to get angry, stressed or offended. But what you’re doing when you indulge these negative emotions is giving something outside yourself power over your happiness. You can choose to not let little things upset you. – Joel Osteen
Fear has brought countless children into the world; they have donned many disguises: some harmless, some helpful, some hideous.
They can be accepted or rejected, ignored or denied, controlled or controlling depending on one’s circumstances and/or state of mind.
Although Worry seemed to be one of Fear’s more benign disguises, it could turn malignant rapidly.
The more I worried, the more anxious and impatient I became. Impatience led to annoyance, then anger. If my anger was justified, it usually disappeared as quickly as it came. – Excerpt from “I’m Afraid”
Anger is one of Fear’s most mercurial offspring. Whether my anger is justified or not, I most often can step back, try very hard to view it rationally, and eventually dispel it.
Sometimes, I can’t.
If I did not rein it [anger] in as soon as it reared its ugly head, it picked up speed and raced down a road to a place that was dark and terrifying. Sometimes the trip took a few days, sometimes a fraction of a second. – Excerpt from “I’m Afraid”
Anger is a killing thing: it kills the man who angers, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before – it takes something from him. – Louis L’Amour
Cerebellitis, more so than bipolar disorder, taught me about Fear’s Machiavellian nature: devious, cunning, and, to my surprise, judicious.
My intimate relationship with Fear and his spawn inspired a poem that demonstrates how, and of what, Fear can possess the ability to rob us. I refer to it frequently.
Guard Against Annoyance
Annoyance leads to Anger.
Anger leads to Resentment.
Resentment leads to Hatred.
Hatred leads to Revenge.
Revenge feeds the Ego.
An overstuffed Ego
Swells with Pride.
Pride comes before the Fall.
The Fall is into Darkness.
Too much time spent in the Darkness
Results in rejection of the Light.
Rejection of the Light leads to
Loss of the Soul. – Excerpt from “I’m Afraid”
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The saga continues in my next blog.
Do Not Be Afraid!!!