Comments on: Dealing with Anger and Fear http://druidjournal.net/2009/01/10/dealing-with-anger-and-fear/ Guidance and Inspiration from Nature and the Ancient World. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:19:39 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jeff Lilly http://druidjournal.net/2009/01/10/dealing-with-anger-and-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-133919 Jeff Lilly Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:00:03 +0000 http://druidjournal.net/?p=888#comment-133919 KL -- I've seen and experienced a lot of what you describe in the conscious control of emotional states during discussion with loved ones, and it really is amazingly effective. It's not just that the other person changes their reaction based on my emotional projections; it seems even more profound than that -- as if you're actually <i>changing</i> the other person. For me, it reinforces how dream-like waking reality is... I don't know what would happen in a knife-fight! But I guarantee that keeping your vibration high will keep knife attacks away. :-) If you read an article of mine in <a href="http://druidjournal.net/2008/12/17/athenaeum-2008z-the-dream-master-mapping-the-subconscious-and-the-druid-calendar/" rel="nofollow">Athenaeum 2008:Z</a> ("Mapping the Subconscious"), it really does seem as though the areas of ourselves that are more fear-centered and low-vibration are the same ones that are less connected, less integrated, more ego-centered. KL — I’ve seen and experienced a lot of what you describe in the conscious control of emotional states during discussion with loved ones, and it really is amazingly effective. It’s not just that the other person changes their reaction based on my emotional projections; it seems even more profound than that — as if you’re actually changing the other person. For me, it reinforces how dream-like waking reality is…

I don’t know what would happen in a knife-fight! But I guarantee that keeping your vibration high will keep knife attacks away. :-)

If you read an article of mine in Athenaeum 2008:Z (”Mapping the Subconscious”), it really does seem as though the areas of ourselves that are more fear-centered and low-vibration are the same ones that are less connected, less integrated, more ego-centered.

]]> By: KL - Prana Flow Yoga http://druidjournal.net/2009/01/10/dealing-with-anger-and-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-133721 KL - Prana Flow Yoga Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:31:32 +0000 http://druidjournal.net/?p=888#comment-133721 I like the example you use about the knife-wielding attacker. Our habitual response to a situation is to be afraid, for the very reasons you mention. But when you imagine yourself in that situation, and then also imagine that you have nothing at all to lose... it becomes entirely possible to pull on an enormous amount of power and strength from within and respond differently. For example standing firm and grunting from the very depths of your being, projecting as much energy forward and out as you can. Most knife wielding attackers suffer from the same fears as we do, and the sight of someone responding in an unexpected way is enough to throw them off completely. Now I haven't tested this... it's all theory... I'm just going by 'thought-experiments', and musing over possibilities. But in my thought experiments, the way I feel as the "victim" completely changes when I refuse to BE the victim - when I have nothing left to lose and choose my response. I have however played with this concept of altering emotional states within arguments with loved ones. During an argument, when feeling afraid and freaked out and sad etc, I've noticed my emotional state, noticed it was based on fear of loss, and taken a moment to let go of the fear, to breathe, and then to pull out my strength and completely change the emotional resonance of my being within the argument. The results are extraordinary. As soon as I change, the other person changes and the argument often fades away into nothing-ness. Feelings dictate our behaviour to an enormous extent - perhaps even more than thoughts. Yet both are constantly generated, moving in and out, and don't necessarily serve what it is we're trying to create. Coming to a place of awareness where feelings, just like thoughts, are witnessed but not reacted to brings one to a state of calm and internal power. Sounds simple, but it definitely isn't easy! Even while witnessing these emotional states, I can find it extraordinarily difficult to NOT react to them... the ego seems to be massively invested in holding on to something (itself perhaps?) Hmmm... you've got me thinking Jeff! Great Post! I like the example you use about the knife-wielding attacker. Our habitual response to a situation is to be afraid, for the very reasons you mention. But when you imagine yourself in that situation, and then also imagine that you have nothing at all to lose… it becomes entirely possible to pull on an enormous amount of power and strength from within and respond differently. For example standing firm and grunting from the very depths of your being, projecting as much energy forward and out as you can. Most knife wielding attackers suffer from the same fears as we do, and the sight of someone responding in an unexpected way is enough to throw them off completely. Now I haven’t tested this… it’s all theory… I’m just going by ‘thought-experiments’, and musing over possibilities. But in my thought experiments, the way I feel as the “victim” completely changes when I refuse to BE the victim – when I have nothing left to lose and choose my response.

I have however played with this concept of altering emotional states within arguments with loved ones. During an argument, when feeling afraid and freaked out and sad etc, I’ve noticed my emotional state, noticed it was based on fear of loss, and taken a moment to let go of the fear, to breathe, and then to pull out my strength and completely change the emotional resonance of my being within the argument. The results are extraordinary. As soon as I change, the other person changes and the argument often fades away into nothing-ness.

Feelings dictate our behaviour to an enormous extent – perhaps even more than thoughts. Yet both are constantly generated, moving in and out, and don’t necessarily serve what it is we’re trying to create. Coming to a place of awareness where feelings, just like thoughts, are witnessed but not reacted to brings one to a state of calm and internal power. Sounds simple, but it definitely isn’t easy! Even while witnessing these emotional states, I can find it extraordinarily difficult to NOT react to them… the ego seems to be massively invested in holding on to something (itself perhaps?)

Hmmm… you’ve got me thinking Jeff! Great Post!

]]> By: Jeff Lilly http://druidjournal.net/2009/01/10/dealing-with-anger-and-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-133714 Jeff Lilly Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:53:28 +0000 http://druidjournal.net/?p=888#comment-133714 Hrafnkell, thanks for the inspiring comment! I've never been anywhere near as low as that; but if I ever am, I hope I have the guts and the poise to handle it like you did. Blessings on you! Hrafnkell, thanks for the inspiring comment! I’ve never been anywhere near as low as that; but if I ever am, I hope I have the guts and the poise to handle it like you did. Blessings on you!

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