Fear, Stress, & Anxiety and Perspective

Fear is the biological wiring most closely connected to that instinct to run — as opposed to fight, associated with anger. Fear is amplified in times of stress and anxiety.

In times of change, many of us focus on what we are losing. Understandably so. We are familiar with the way things are, but what of this new thing on its way? This process is even more pronounced in our manufacturing & consumption based mindset. Unconsciously, we begin to equate our lives with that of our toaster. It’s brand new and perfect out of the box. Then, there’s a scratch in the finish; soon the nob breaks forcing you to watch your bread or risk it become a charcoal briquette. Eventually, it stops working. Off it goes to the landfill, never to be of use again.

Our spiritual ancestors, formed in an agricultural world, did not experience time as strictly “beginning, middle, end.” “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,” Qoheleth wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes ( 3:1 ). There is life after death; and death before there can be life.

This week, we explore how fear, stress & anxiety can be overcome with a change of perception. “Changing our emotions is quite hard,” Jinpa explained, “changing our perspective is actually relatively easy.”

Prayer

God, over and over you remind me: I have a choice. I have a choice as to how I experience the world and what I wish to do in response. Recalibrate my senses to behold your goodness and the seasons of your coming and going. Amen.

Continue Searching

Struggling to gain perspective? Read “ Why 2017 Was the Best Year in Human History, ” by Nicholas Kristof.

Special thanks to Dorothy Russo for passing this article along. What are you reading? What resources would you like to share with the church?