Once again, I was awake much earlier than I wanted to be. It fascinates me how in the early morning hours things that should not be a problem become magnified many times more than they are worth.
This is not to say that problems don’t need solving, but in the moments between night and dawn ~ what should not be that big a problem looms larger and more oppressive then a couple of hours later when the sun illuminates the day ~ what seemed so large is revealed at its correct size. A size that is something that can be handled, dealt with or simply dismissed as not important.
I found this morning that my breathing changed (not for the better) and my mind became completely over-active with concerns that hadn’t even made themselves evident in reality.
Being honest, it was nothing more than unsubstantiated fear. The kind of fear that creeps in on soft feet, and tries to take over the mind…which then translates into reactions of the body…the heart, breathing and even the skin temperature.
I would like to say that it’s easy to say: “Begone!” But we know such is not the case. Sometimes, I literally have to get up and deal with each phantom individually~ individually, and firmly.
Perhaps you don’t have these night-time holograms ~ if so, be very thankful. To those, such as myself, who do ~ I offer these quotes:
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
–Frank Herbert, Dune – (Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear)
Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.
— German Proverb
Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake.
–Edgar Wallace – The Clue of the Twisted Candle (1916)
Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.
–Japanese Proverb
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic.
–Unknown
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
–Eleanor Roosevelt
To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another.
–Katherine Paterson
No matter how hard you work for success if your thought is saturated with the fear of failure, it will kill your efforts, neutralize your endeavors and make success impossible.
–Bandjuin
Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
If I can endure for this minute whatever is happening to me No matter how heavy my heart is or how dark the moment might be… If I can but keep on believing what I know in my heart to be true, That darkness will fade with morning and that this will pass away, too… Then nothing can ever disturb me or fill me with uncertain fear, For as sure as night brings dawning, my morning is bound to appear…
–Unknown
Don’t be afraid of fear
Because fear is afraid of itself
You give into fear when you doubt yourself
Fear makes you a complete opposite of yourself
Draining every bit of confidence your body has left
Fear tricks you of your potential
Wiping away your credentials
A life ruled by fear is life without hope
Of course people are going to have raining days
But with fear, everyday you will have your droughts
Be confident and put your head up high
How can fear overtake you when you’re looking at the
Beautiful clouds high in the sky
–Rico Graham
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