As I sit to write this, the world has lost about 3,000 people to the coronavirus, and the first few cases have shown up in my home state of Minnesota. My heart goes out to the families of every single one of them, because each one of those 3,000 is someone’s loved one, and loss is sad and hard.
At the exact same time, we lose approximately 300,000 people to obesity related issues every year just in the U.S. In 2016, a global 1.6 million people died from diabetes. That’s million, with an M, folks, in one year. Another 2.2 million died of diabetes related issues. Let those numbers soak in for a moment.
Hear me clearly, I would never minimize the impact of losing someone regardless of how the person loses their life. Loss is hard.
Let’s get our heads back on straight, please.
The coronavirus is not the evil demon here, fear is.
When we exist in fear, our body goes into a panic response, that’s the flight, fight or freeze response. Our adrenals kick out tons of adrenaline, as if we’re being chased by a tiger. And with no place to release the adrenaline, it sits in our tissues and creates acids that break down our organs, glands. and every other tissue in our body. Our elimination system contracts to minimize the damage should we actually be attacked by the tiger. Our blood vessels contract to also minimize loss, our mind reels and becomes hyper focused so we are more inclined to under reason, over react, be short tempered and more emotional and dismiss the needs of others as the ego goes into survival mode. Along with all of this, as our body struggles to prioritize in case we’re attacked, our immune system (the part of us that fights things like, well, viruses) becomes depleted.
Fear is bad for us.
I was working with a client of mine yesterday. She told me a story of being out running errands that morning, making a Target run and finding the store was out of toilet paper. She ran to Costco and Walmart, no toilet paper! None! A friend of mine manages a grocery store, and says canned and frozen foods have been flying out of the store. We are collectively in a panic, and it’s really bad for us.
I have a sign in my office that says, “Let your faith be bigger than your fear”.
This isn’t an article about faith as much as it is about the damage of fear. I honestly believe Spirit is asking us to really pay attention right now. Not to the media hype about the virus, but to what happens to us inside when we live in fear. We all have a part of us, that part that I refer to as the ego or fear mind, which is totally committed to our survival, no matter what it takes, or who goes before us. The ego does not care, as long as it’s not me. Through the ages, we have created a global life that has allowed us to transcend beyond the basic fears of the ego-mind. The vast majority of us have a place to live, food to eat, and clothes on our backs. The basics of survival that say, my Grandparents, who survived the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl (for the youngsters, this is not a sporting event, Google it) era, even my generation could not even conceive. I know people who think going without Alexa is deprivation, or grade school kids who think their parents are borderline abusing them because they don’t have the latest iPhone. The vast majority of us are not fighting for our lives.
It’s interesting how quickly we return to that fight for survival mentality! This, my friends, is our ego-mind at work. It’s not real, it’s operating on limited information and a whole lot of fear.
We can do better. We can calm ourselves and reach a space of objectivity, and I invite you into that space. Stop. Breathe. Wiggle your toes. You are ok. I swear to you.
During this time, please, I beg you to reach a place of objectivity, of mindfulness. Meditate, pray, go for a walk outside, exercise, do yoga, something creative, breathe into your whole body one area at the time. Start at your head and with each breath, let Light and love and vitality be brought to each area of your body. Spirit knows what to do. Allow the Light in. Allow yourself to return to your state of grace where you realize we are among the most well-off people in the world. Use this as an opportunity to be mindful of your gifts, the little things. Give thanks for your food, home, body, and community. There is an opportunity for us to come together and appreciate one another, to stand for love and light. I have said it often to clients, you can’t be in love and fear at the same time. You have to be willing to let go of one to step into the other. Let’s focus on love.
Fear stands for: False Evidence Appearing Real.
We are well, we are loved by Spirit. Let’s take the opportunity we are being presented. Let’s focus on what we do have. Where our true power lies, deep within us in that space called peace. You can truly leave the fear, and step into love.
Now sit, and stay.
Blessings Galore, Anne