Fear is an
intricate part of the human experience, shaping our thoughts, actions, and
decisions. While fears can arise from external sources like snakes or the fear
of losing loved ones or jobs, they ultimately reside within us. Understanding
this fundamental truth is the first step toward conquering our fears. In this
article, we will explore the nature of fear, how it manifests within us, and
practical steps to take charge of our innermost fears.
Fear varies from
person to person. Some may be terrified of snakes, while others may fear
spiders or heights. Yet, it is important to recognize that these fears are not
because of some objects or situations themselves, but rather to our perception
of them. The snake that appears in our thoughts does not stare at us with
malice; it is merely an image conjured by our minds. Likewise, the scenes of
death that haunt us are nothing more than imaginative projections of our fears.
The key to
conquering our fears lies in understanding that they originate from within us.
We possess the power to shape our thoughts and reactions. Just as we can
imagine a snake, we can also communicate with it, telling it not to stare at us
menacingly. Similarly, we can confront the scenes of death that plague our
minds, reassuring ourselves that they are mere illusions. By acknowledging that
our fears are products of our imagination, we gain the ability to exert control
over them.
Mastering the Imaginary Snake:
Snake appearing
in my thoughts and feeling that Snakes might be hiding in my kitchen cabinet or
somewhere in the toilet lurking at me often is one of my worst fears.
I want to share
a personal experience about that. Snakes being my deepest fear, Whenever I
thought about snakes, fear would wash over me, and it felt as if the snake's
menacing gaze was fixed upon me. My heart would race, and my stomach would
churn.
One day, I
decided to understand the reason behind this snake appearing in my thoughts
very often. I sat in my chair on the balcony of my apartment, staring at the
sky. I kept staring until the image of the sky was deeply imprinted in me. Then
I started imagining the snake in every detail I could possibly imagine. It was
a black cobra with hoods as big as my face, staring at me. I could see its two
fangs, so sharp and menacing. Then I looked at its eyes and saw my image in
them. Its hissing sound sent shivers down my spine. I decided to stare into its
eyes and wait for it to attack me. It never moved. It just kept staring at me.
This time I was
sweating heavily, but I don’t want to give up. I just kept staring at it.
Suddenly, from nowhere, a ferocious Tiger appeared, and the image of the Snake
that I had carefully constructed was fading. I looked at the tiger, and the
Tiger started staring at me. Oh my god, first it was a snake, and now it’s a
Tiger from nowhere.
I realized that
the Tiger too was my imagination, but not a conscious one, and the presence of
a Tiger weakened the Snake. I asked the Tiger to fade away, but I asked the
snake to remain, no longer fixating its gaze upon my face. Instead, I requested
that it look in the same direction as me. To my surprise, the Snake responded and
started looking at the sky just like me.
At the moment, I
could not see any difference between me and the Snake. We were like, I would
say “into each other” or “we felt like we were one”. And from that time on,
whenever the image of a Snake comes to mind, I just ask it not to stare at me
and look along with me. The fear slowly disappeared.
Facing your fear
is better said than done. Unless we start looking at things as that of
something that is happening within us, we will not be able to realize that most
of the things in our life are self created.