Think Positive

“For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

October is a time where the world ups the fear factor. Spooky decorations, horror films, and even the weather starts to bring a chill to the air and our spines. But while that is designed to make your fearful, we know (deep down) that it can’t really hurt us so we curb our fear and come back to reality where it’s safe. But what about the things that scare us that ARE real? Racism. Poverty. Bullying. Infectious disease. Death. All of these are harsh realities in our world and can harm us. What do you do when your Fears are real, and they start to show their ugly faces?

First, I want you to ask yourself what you’re really afraid of. There’s surface level Fear, which is usually the shock factor when presented with something. Think about someone or something startling your and catching you off guard. Then there’s Fear of pain, when you think about the most immediate effects of something, like what will happen if you hit your head, or if you drop something and it shattering. And finally there’s long term effect fear, when you’re worried about the long term effects of something happening. Like losing your job or home, seeing something explode and not knowing if your loved one is inside, or having to go into a dangerous situation and not knowing if you’ll come out of it alive. Knowing what you’re afraid of will make it easier for you to face it, and let you know what you need to tell yourself to get through it.

Secondly, determine the level of risk involved. A lot of times, surface level fear is low risk. It’s the startle that shocks you more than anything, not the act or the information you’re presented with. Fear of pain can be a little more real. You know that if you put your hand into a hot oven unprotected you can be burned, or by not wearing a seat belt there’s a chance of injury. But, those things are most often preventable by taking the right safety measures, so you don’t have to be as afraid. But long term effect fear can be it’s own animal. Most of the time, that encompasses some fear of the unkown because it involves the effects of someone else’s choices. You can’t always predict what a racist person is going to do, or what the circumstances will be when you enter the battlefield. The other people involved are playing from a different handbook than you, and you can’t outright trust it. Now that you know the risk level, how do you walk through life?

For me, it’s all about positive affirmations. After you’ve prepared yourself mentally and physically for whatever you’re up against, it’s time to get your emotions in check so they don’t cause more Fear than necessary. I have 3 for you. Number one, tell yourself that you’re safe and/or prepared. If you can assure yourself that you’ve done all you can do, that can help boost your confidence in your ability to survive whatever fearful situation you’re facing. Number two, absolve yourself of the responsibility to control anyone else’s actions. It’s your job to prepare for what you can control. There’s no sense in trying to be you and the the other people involved. Through discernment it is possible to predict some of the other’s actions, and you can prepare for that. But when you can’t don’t make it your fault to expect when it’s not possible. And finally, remember that God didn’t plan for you to walk through life in Fear. The bible says “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Simply put, He gave you the tools to get through any and everything. Just think smart, prepare for what you can, and walk in confidence that He’s walking with you.

All in all, I want you to Think Positive. The only way to walk through fear is to not walk IN fear. And positive thinking can help you do just that.