Yesterday, we looked at fear. We learned that fear is resistance, which means the way to overcome fear is willingness.
Resistance avoids change.
Willingness is open to change.
What is the change that we fear?
Ultimately, we fear losing our self. However, as today’s reading points out, the self we are afraid of losing is not our true Self. It is an imagined self. It is a collection of ideas about who we are. It’s thought, and nothing more than thought.
Our true Self is much more than thought.
In today’s reading, Holy Spirit says:
If I am to help you release your fear, I must teach you there is nothing to fear.
Holy Sprit does this in two primary ways:
- Holy Spirit helps us become aware of thought. We notice that thought comes and goes. We notice that thought changes constantly, sometimes quite dramatically. We notice thought isn’t consistent. For example, thought takes a side and then changes sides. We notice that thought pretends to represent our best interests, but when we inquire more deeply, we see that isn’t true.
- Holy Spirit helps us become aware of our true Self. We notice our true Self is always present. It is peaceful, naturally clear and wise. It is constant, changeless and consistent. When we focus on our true Self deeply, we realize inherent joy.
As we become more aware of both the false self and the true Self, we see more clearly which one we want and which one we don’t want. That strengthens our willingness, which simultaneously weakens resistance. In other words, increased awareness is the path of gentle healing.
Note: Today’s reading interprets the story about Jesus being sentenced to crucifixion. If you’d like to read that story in the Bible, click here.
