Freedom From Fear

Many people are so conditioned by alarmist ideology they don’t even realize how incredibly insecure they are. Others who are more self-aware see the negative impact of constant anxiety and worry on their physical or emotional wellbeing.

Fear of losing a loved one, anxiety over personal death and what – if anything – comes next, concern over lack or scarcity, and dread of terrorist attack are all examples of the burdens people carry daily. Whether intense phobia or general neurosis, living with undue fear greatly diminishes the joy of life and drains your power in the present moment.

Whether you have a serious problem or simply understand the value of eliminating fear from a personal development perspective, you have the power to walk away from this potentially destructive process – to enjoy genuine freedom from fear – right now.

Two Brief Disclaimers

First of all it’s important to grasp that fear is actually a very useful emotion when experienced at appropriate levels. If you’re strolling through the woods and a bear rushes toward you from the underbrush, it’s desirable that your body sends the signal of fear rather than curiosity so you’ll take ideal measures. This sensation is very handy in times of need. What we’re looking at in this article is the excess levels of fear modern society accepts and encourages.

Second, I’m not impersonating a psychologist. All I’m doing with this content is sharing some very useful insight derived from ancient wisdom and contemporary personal development philosophies.

The Deep Need For Answers

Humans naturally seek an intellectual understanding of themselves and the world in which they live. Obviously this is a productive trait of the species, for it has led to numerous wonderful advances in technology and lifestyle.

This deep need for answers and security is perhaps the greatest motivation for pursuing organized faith. Religion promises, often falsely, certainty about the deepest mysteries of life.

Some Answers Simply Don’t Exist

Some questions, however, may be unanswerable in intellectual terms. For example, what happens to the mind and identity when someone’s body dies?

It’s a fascinating query with a variety of theoretical answers. Perhaps nothing at all happens and the stream of consciousness ends forever. Maybe the energetic essence of a person shifts into another form. Who’s to say that our minds don’t wake up in another reality or enter an emerging fetus to begin the life’s journey anew? The bottom line is nobody knows for sure how this works. Reincarnation and a new life in heaven are fine ideas but there’s no substantial proof for either.

Dogma – Scientific Or Religious – Is Often Counterproductive

The fervent priest who insists he knows the truth about life after death is deluding himself and his trusting followers. It’s one thing to hold strongly an opinion or belief, and there’s nothing intrinsically wrong about doing so. Things take a turn for the perverse however when an organization demands that everyone agree with their take on what happens to the mind when the body dies; to suggest that individuals who reject the idea of heaven are instantly doomed to fiery eternal torment in the pits of hell, for example, is preposterous and deeply disturbed.

By the same token, it’s foolish for the proud agnostic to immediately assume anything beyond the mundane is impossible. Soapbox scholars who constantly harangue others with tirades about how consciousness after physical death just can’t be are not only false skeptics, they’re every bit as fanatically religious as those they claim to oppose.

Here is where dogma – whether religious or scientific – and genuine spirituality part ways in the most dramatic fashion. Spirituality is not concerned with specific belief systems; the individual is free to entertain whatever theories he wishes. Religion (including neo-atheism), on the other hand, furnishes highly specific beliefs for adherents and then enforces these ideas, sometimes with the threat of death or eternal torment.

From a legitimate, mature spiritual perspective clinging to definite answers when none can logically exist is seen as counterproductive and unintuitive.

Especially in Western society, certainty and intellectual security are highly valued. While harmless to a certain extent, in some areas of life this rigidity constitutes pettiness, insecurity, and delusion.

Why Should There Always Be A Solution?

Whether or not the fact is fashionable or comfortable, human beings do not currently have all the answers about the cosmos and the phenomenon known as life. Our intuitive faculties provide compelling insight and allude to many possibilities, but it’s ultimately important to accept the mystery.

Uncertainty is viewed as an unpleasant experience or even as a weakness by mainstream society, but this is primitive exoteric thinking. Embracing the ambiguity of life is actually the first step toward real spiritual living.

Not having all the answers about the mysteries of life, or even about your own future, gives you tremendous freedom. In the space of this uncertainty lies infinite potential.

Spiritual Uncertainty Brings Liberation And Power

In the quantum field before a particle or wave is observed, only the probability for either a particle or a wave exists. The principle of uncertainty set forth by the physicist Heisenberg states that pairs of physical properties like location and speed of movement cannot both be known at the same time. For instance, a researcher can find a particle by measuring its position, and can identify a wave by measuring its velocity, but can never find both the position and velocity at the same time.

This fascinating law of physics teaches us much about the nature of life. Scientists choose to pull either a tiny bit of matter or an energetic frequency from the plane of raw potential. In the same manner you decide moment-to-moment where to rest your awareness and how to interpret the experience of reality. The principle of uncertainty is always at work beyond the world of subatomic energy and particles, in the realm of daily life. Because we cannot predict with complete accuracy how any specific situation will unfold, there is always the potential for new developments and exciting surprises.

The pessimist would argue that, from this perspective, the possibility also exists for great disaster. This may be true, but we can’t simply pretend uncertainty isn’t a reality just because we are uncomfortable with one range of possible outcomes.

Furthermore, we have the power to define any event or circumstance as positive or negative, even if we can’t predict or demand an absolutely precise conclusion. We can choose to manifest a reality that serves our highest good, and to see every new development as something that moves us toward what we want or teaches us an important life lesson. Therefore it’s completely unnecessary to view uncertainty as the basis for fear and insecurity.

On the contrary we should embrace the always-open possibilities of life with endless enthusiasm and exhilaration. Because you don’t know exactly what will come next, there is always an intellectually plausible reason to look forward with great excitement.

Past disappointments are not destined to repeat themselves unless we believe this to be the case. Using negative, previous experiences to predict future events may be useful in laboratory settings, but it’s counterproductive as a life philosophy.

Whatever your life situation, you are free to explore new possibilities at any time. Regardless of any defeat or failure you’ve experienced up to this point, it is absolutely feasible to expect more favorable results in the future. Of course new action may be required to break old patterns, and new thinking is a definite must to get clear of recurring frustrations.

The point is, because of the inherent uncertainty of life, you can greet each new day with the intention to create new experiences. People trapped in the prison of mundane thought find this idea horrifying, but those who walk the spiritual path rejoice at the unlimited potential of life.

The Prison Of Comfort

A primary reason for resisting the notion of uncertainty is the desire to remain comfortable. Change in any form requires the firing of new neurons and the processing of atypical emotional sequences; most people find this process disagreeable and even frightening.

Think about how you get dressed each morning; in particular note which foot you put into a shoe first. Because this is an automatic activity you may need to actually go through the physical motions of putting your shoes on to figure out which foot is shod first. Once you know your regular routine, switch it up and start putting the shoe on your opposite foot first each morning.

You may be surprised by how unpleasant you find this simple test. From here it should be quite easy to understand how the potential for major change is extremely unsettling for most individuals.

As creatures of habit, human beings cling tightly to established comfort zones, even if the familiar circumstances are unpleasant and contrary to what someone claims to desire. A good example of this is the person who lives in utter poverty, constantly complains about his plight, and yet routinely sabotages new opportunities to receive money so he can stay in the situation he has become so accustomed to. An individual living in poverty who hits a major lottery jackpot has an above 80% chance of squandering all their winnings and returning to destitution within a period of two years. The bizarre and disappointing reality is, many people would rather suffer than have new experiences.

Your inclination to remain complacent, even at the expense of fulfillment and growth, must be confronted. Comfort is not intrinsically bad. It’s right and good that you should indulge in the experience of contentment. You might sink into a soft chair for a few hours to enjoy a book, or relax into a hot whirlpool spa with a drink in hand. Just beware the lazy and fear-based aspect of placation. Remember that expansion and creativity, i.e. change, is the natural state of things. When you resist the flow of life in order to avoid inevitable developments you become emotionally stagnant and spiritually defunct. Only by accepting new lessons and the processes of renewal and adaptation can you be genuinely free and empowered.

As the French author François de la Rochefoucauld said:

“The only thing constant in life is change”

However counter intuitive this may seem, it’s important that you embrace the uncertainty of life. Rejoice in the infinite potentiality of each new day, indeed of every fresh moment as it unfolds before and through you.

Once you let go of preexisting inhibitions and embrace the thrill of not having all the answers, the subtle anxiety and underlying fear modern life has planted within you will begin to fade. Release the need for specific outcomes. Accept the freedom of immeasurable prospects. Continue to acknowledge the unlimited possibilities while welcoming the best-case scenarios and trusting in the good of life, and your anxieties over change will soon be replaced with a new vigor for living.

To enjoy more insightful content, including articles and videos, be sure to visit the author’s blog today. You’ll find lots of great variety, from musings on universal consciousness to advice on living in the present moment.

It’s not a stretch to suggest that all of society’s problems oculd be solved if our many cultures emphasized the value of true living, i.e. breathing and being right here in this present moment. Fear, anxiety, stress, conflict, and many other negative states are often brought about by dwelling on the past or fretting the future.

Most astonishingly is that in many cases the past or future being obsessed over is fictional. This is true of individuals and collectives.

So-called social and political experts would say I’m being simplistic, but most deep truths are uncomplicated. Living in the present moment is the key to clarity, and it’s also the gateway to gennuine understanding of the self and the world. For a more in-depth look at how letting go and just allowing the present to take hold can give you more energy and sharper focus (among other things) please check out this article from my main blog:

http://www.aaronatlarge.com/blog/spirituality-articles/living-in-the-present-moment-brings-clarity/

As always, thanks for reading and take care!

A very simple meditative exercise for tuning into you unique purpose is, as follows:

As usual with meditations, find a quiet place where you can relax fully and be undisturbed for some time. Ideally go ahead and perform regular deep breathing meditation for a few minutes.

If you’re not yet familiar with this basic meditation, simply feel your body relax as completely as possible and then pay attention to your breath. Watch your breath flow into your lungs, and then watch it flow out. Do not attempt to control your breathing, just watch and feel it as it occurs.

After a few minutes of breath meditation your body, mind, and emotions will be very still. At this time shift your awareness to the space directly behind your sternum, in the very center of your chest.

Feel into this space for a minute or two. Notice any warmth you feel or any light you imagine; don’t force any sensations or images just pay attention to what comes naturally.

Place a palm over this spot, against your breastbone. Take a deep breath, hold it, and imagine the energy of the breath flowing into this spot in your chest. Release the breath softly.

With your palm over your chest ask these questions:

“Who am I? What do I want? Why am I here?”

Do not attempt to answer yourself! Just notice whatever thoughts and feelings arise in response to your asking.

Ask again. Then again.

Sit and ask yourself this question for several minutes, and then sit quietly and allow your mind to be as clear as possible.

Repeat this exercise once or twice each day. Also ask the questions when you wake up each morning.

Remember, don’t try to answer intellectually. Just listen to the answers that come up. This is just a meditation exercise.

It will aid you in finding and connecting to your true purpose. But I also recommend you apply some of the concepts found in my complete article on finding your life purpose.

Science types who consider themselves conservative often scoff at spiritual concepts like universal intelligence, insisting the cosmos is the result of blind chance. But the idea of billions and billions of lucky breaks happening at exactly the right time to create the universe and everything in it seems considerably more far-fetched than the notion of a conscious cosmos.

If we accept the storyline provided by mainstream physics, during the 12 to 14 billion years since the universe began through the Big Bang there has been a continuous stream of perfectly lucky breaks resulting in the accidental formation of stars, planets, galaxies, the ideal conditions for life, and the eventual emergence of various organic forms. The mathematical odds required to support this notion are absolutely absurd.

If the number of particles left over in the wake of the Big Bang had been slightly greater, the new cosmos would have been too dense and thus would have collapsed on itself to form a massive black hole. On the other hand, a minute decrease in the number of original particles would have caused the universe to expand so quickly that stars and planets had no time to form.

A 0.2% variance in the mass of a neutron would have completely eliminated the possibility of atoms emerging from the primal waves of energy. In this event there would of course be no matter of any kind.

If the strong nuclear force of the first atoms had been a fraction of a percent weaker, the entire universe would have become pure hydrogen. If this strong force had been a fraction of a percent more potent all the original atoms would have burned up, leaving no fuel to form stars.

Gravitational and electromagnetic forces from the moment of the Big Bang were precisely in the right range to eventually produce supernovas and the development of heavy elements. This process is of course what ultimately led to carbon, oxygen, and organic material, or life. Any deviation across literally billions of actions and reactions would have disrupted the emergence of our galaxy, our planet, and the life forms that preceded us.

The earth formed in the perfect proximity to the sun for the development of life. Thereafter myriad complex ecosystems emerged, each with their own compliment of coexisting organisms; again the number of coincidences that allowed all this to happen is no less than astonishing.

You began as a tiny spec of organic material that contained the coded instructions for your physical growth, emotional development, and mental advancement. Since that moment of conception and continuing to this very moment, your body has experienced millions of chemical reactions and electrical transmissions in every second at the cellular and atomic levels.

Modern medicine admits that your cells and systems are intelligent. For example your digestive system is aware and adaptive; it learns and communicates with other systems within your body. In the same manner the living cells of all organisms are conscious, for they emerged from the intelligent field of potential that gives rise to the particles and atoms that form all things.

Scientists who insist the universe is a meaningless accident are deliberately ignoring the obvious. The universe is creative and precise to a degree that indicates a vast intelligence.

Of course many in the scientific community choose to embrace this truth.

Albert Einstein believed natural law revealed intelligence “far superior” to human logic. He spoke often and reverently of the clear powers of “reason” that is observable in the natural world.

Nobel prize winning physicist Max Planck also referred to the “conscious and intelligent” mind behind the manifestations and phenomena of the natural world. This mind, Planck asserted, controls the vibration of atoms and causes the formation of matter.

Several contemporary researchers also promote the idea of universal consciousness. The current and coming generation, within the scientific community and elsewhere, have the opportunity to shift the mainstream paradigm.

To accept the truth about the cosmos is empowering on many levels. You are a complex, conscious manifestation of the cosmic forces that created you. The universe observes and expresses itself through your awareness, and your desire to expand and be fulfilled is the natural, unstoppable inclination of space and time to increase from their point of origin.

To see more insightful content on spirituality and science and how you can find your true self be sure to visit the author’s blog. You’ll find a wealth of information on the things that matter most in life.

This sad condition manifests as the delusion that a person will be happy after they have attained a specific object, event, or circumstance. For example, many people believe they’ll be happy once they have more money. Others think happiness will arrive after their kids are grown and out of the house. Still others insist they’ll have time to be happy when they meet their dream mate. But this is all nonsense.

Every time we meet one of our “I’ll be happy when” goals we experience brief satisfaction, only to realize that what we really wanti is still just a few steps away. Thus the entire drama begins anew.

To be clear: I think it’s great to have goals and milestones in life; these notions make the journey fun and exciting.

I’m just saying specific goals are not the key to happiness. In fact there is no key to happiness, for happiness is the key.

Put  another way: There is no way/path to happiness, because happiness is the way and the path.

The purpose of life is to be happy! No waiting, no skills, and no knowledge are required.

JUST LET GO RIGHT NOW AND BE HAPPY!

This sounds too simple for our modern-day minds because we are often in love with drama and complexity. But scientific studies have shown that the happiest nations on earth are also the poorest, i.e. those without excessive “entertainment” and consumerism.

To be clear again: I’m not knocking money, wealth, the fun of shopping and having new toys, etc. I’m simply saying all this clutter has little to do with deep, resonant happiness.

True, lasting, unwavering happiness is within your grasp right here and right now if you’ll only accept and embrace it. Relax your shoulders, clear your mind, take a deep breath, and feel into the experience of just sitting there. If you’re honest with yourself you will find that the default setting, so to speak, is happiness.

In other words your brain and your body want to just be happy, and it takes a good deal of denial and hard work to prevent this natural state. Let this sink in and ponder over it for a day or so.

When you accept the now you are more alert, relaxed, and energized. Also it is very common to experience spontaneous joy and optimism.

Many spiritual teachers make this point, but due to the experiential nature of present moment mindfulness, people often do not grasp the power of the message. In fact sometimes people look at the process of allowing the now as some sort of chore or work task.

The truth is it’s both natural and easy to let go of your mind and be fully immersed in the present moment. While you may have learned a different way of being from society, centeredness in the moment is your natural state.

When you are able to finally let go, often after a bit of practice, you’ll feel a deep sense of peace and exhilaration wash over you. There is little question that a state of being in the now is our most natural place of presence. Both our bodies and our minds function at full capacity when we are free in the present moment.

Also, living in the now is the only way to have a truly exciting, refreshing life. Rather than resigning yourself to a routine and accepting the mundane nature of life, you can allow each new moment to unfold as it will and bring a new experience into your awareness.

The universe is filled with infinite potential, yet most of us recreate the same events and circumstances over and over for decades until we finally pass from this life. How sad and bizarre that we seem unable to comprehend the unlimited possibilities all around us when we become absorbed in our narrow, habitual view of the world.

Living in the now means to stop pushing and let life flow. Allow the moment to just be what it naturally is.

You’ll discover new things about the body you have lived in for years. And you’ll learn a great deal about the person you really are; it’s very common for people to change dramatically when they stop living in their head and begin living in the real world of now.

You can start embracing the moment by telling yourself each day when you awake that new things are in store for you. Rejoice in the fact that you don’t know exactly what’s coming your way with each new moment and be mindful of the fact that new experiences can enter your life at any time.

With this frame of mind, begin to practice letting go of your thought-state throughout the day. Just step back from the process of constant thought and become aware of your body, your physical surroundings, and the subtle feelings within your body.

Once you begin your pursuit of the truth it’s likely you’ll be hooked for life. The whole world changes when you view it from the lens of now, and not from the prejudicial perspective of constant thinking and reliving of old experiences.

To answer the question “what is spirituality” and to find your own purpose in life, be sure to visit the author’s blog. You’ll find a wealth of information on the things that matter most in life.

Spirituality means many things to many people. Answering the question of “what is spirituality” for yourself is an important step in your lifelong process of discovery.

To be honest, you don’t need to become an expert in terminology to enjoy a life of meaning and fulfillment. The words are just pointers and tools you can use to uncover your personal direction.

So this article is only one possible answer to the question of “what is spirituality?” If these words resonate with your heart, expand upon them; if not, move on and find something else that feels right to you.

True spirituality has nothing to do with religious practice. The observance of specific belief systems, honoring of certain holy days & customs, and living by a set code of conduct are not spiritual pursuits in and of themselves.

These and other things can be part of an individual’s overall spirituality. But group values systems and traditional behaviors are no more spiritual than political affiliations or loyalty to a college football team.

Spirituality is a very personal matter. And it’s completely experiential, meaning it must be experienced before it can be fully understood.

Having said all this, what’s left to answer? I’ve carried on for half a page about what spirituality is not; so what is it then?

Spirituality is a basic awareness of higher consciousness, and an allowing of the present moment to be what it is.

I could refine this statement by saying: one is spiritual when he or she is aware of a collective, creative consciousness that operates beyond the ego mind. Also, spiritual living involves the practice of being mindful in the moment, and allowing the now to take on a life of its own beyond individual desires to shape events.

This statement is intentionally open for interpretation. While I’ve captured the essence of what I believe spirituality to be, I have refrained from providing a definition heavy with my own personal preferences.

When you know intelligence exists beyond the part of your mind “containing” your identity and personal sense of self, you are being spiritual. When you say “yes” to the present moment, allowing the senses to perceive what they will and making no effort to control what is with your own preference and prejudice, you are being spiritual.

Knowing a great intelligence exists, but making no effort to label it in a way that comforts you, is an act of wisdom. It takes great fortitude to be content with the idea of not necessarily understanding or controlling the world around you.

Also being completely alert in the present moment, rather than hiding from yourself in thoughts of the past and future, requires a steadfast nature. Humanity is not afraid of its alleged weakness and frailty; rather, we are afraid of our own incredible power, thus we hide our faces from it by living in the past and the future most of our lives.

It’s not my intention to slander religion. But I am compelled to warn that many faiths were developed to crush the spiritual nature of their followers.

People are often outraged by any definition of spirituality that omits the vengeful, all-knowing god who exists to protect and punish them. It’s a bizarre phenomenon, and it’s the result of centuries of conditioning and brainwash.

By all means take this article as my opinion. But it’s an opinion based on life experience and an honest search for the truth.

I make no effort to appease the values of others or to detract from another’s point of view. And it’s my sincere hope that I have at least planted the seed of an answer that can be harvested by those who are seeking.

To learn more about spirituality and how you can find your own life purpose, be sure to visit the author’s blog. You’ll find a wealth of information on the things that matter most in life.

Universal spirituality is the term I use to transcend specific religious doctrines and organized creeds. In particular, this concept is applied to spiritual pursuits that go above and beyond the teachings of accepted churches and dogmas; the following content will help anchor those who are new to modern spiritual discussions.

First of all, the reader should understand that few things in the spiritual arena, besides personal discovery, are actually new. The “New Age” is a term often used to describe literature and philosophy that reject traditional theism (one-god faiths like Christianity) and promote broad spiritual practices; but the ideology herein is quite old.

This “New Age” technically originated in the late 19th century, along with freethinking and other movements of thought. It’s very interesting to note this emergence is consistent with ancient prophecies about a global spiritual awakening; see native lore from North and South Americas as well as other cultures for evidence of this. However the belief and practice encompassed in these “new” movements are actually thousands of years old.

Universal spirituality leaves plenty of room for individual interpretation and experience. While organized faith finds this outrageous, the fact is every human being is well-equipped to experience the subtle cosmic energies and need not obey arbitrary religious laws to do so; in fact it’s evident that many religious rules and ceremonies are designed specifically to limit the practitioner’s access to these empowering experiences.

The core fundamental of modern spiritual thought is the idea of oneness rather than separation. Whether or not an individual believes in one or more god figures is irrelevant. All things in the cosmos are bound, or connected, at the most fundamental level; this ancient concept is supported by cutting-edge physics, wherein we find that all phenomenon in the known universe emerge from one field of infinite energy, and all things are connected through this field of energy at the subatomic level.

Simply put, the energy waves that form the atoms from which we are all made are entangled with and connected to the energy of all other people, objects, energies, and life forms in the universe. Hence the spiritual claim that we are all one is indeed very accurate.

After oneness, the next primary tenant of universal spirituality is the idea of cosmic intelligence. The Universe is conscious, and an intelligent force drives all functions from the formation of stars to the combustions and reactions within our cells and systems. While some people and organizations use deities and gods to personify aspects of life, it is not necessary to attach names and egos to the cosmic consciousness. The anthropomorphizing, or transforming into human likeness, of natural forces is an old practice. For example many ancient religions created a sun god, moon goddess, and so forth; this molding of the universe into personal figures demonstrates humanity’s need to control their understanding of the world around them.

But the fact is, intelligence need not only come in the form of humanoid bodies and verbal thought patterns. Our digestive systems demonstrate intelligence, but this does not mean your stomach is named Bob and relays verbal commands your small intestines, Linda. The need to fold and button the cosmic force that drives all things into a form that reflects our own faces is a limitation.

This brings us to the third main principle of universal spirituality, which is the guiding light of intuition. Our intellect may not be sufficient to grasp the most profound spiritual concepts, but through intuitive understanding we can experience a knowingness that transcends thought.

By this same token, our ego-mind is not the ruling portion of our minds. Our ego, or identity, is only one part of what we are. In essence human beings are non-localized consciousness having the experience of mind and body.

Place this notion into context by considering the following statement: When you experience what we call death, your body leaves the spirit, and not the other way around. Give that a few moments to sink in.

Here is a condensed review of these ideas:

All phenomenon that are part of what we refer to as life, or the universe, are connected at the fundamental level. There is only one reality from which the image of many events and circumstances manifests.

A vast intelligence underlies this one reality. This creative consciousness drives the motion of heavenly bodies, the migratory instincts of birds, the life force of ants, and the emotional complexities of human beings.

We are more than our thought patterns and our sense of identity. We are expressions of cosmic consciousness observing the transitory experience of having a body, a name, etc.

These three basic concepts can be even more easily summarized as follows:

All things are part of one great mind or spirit. The spiritual journey is about feeling our connection to this source and its many manifestations, and transcending the mundane experience by knowing our true nature.

From this foundation many additional lessons and experiences can be encountered. Individuality is an important part of true spirituality, as is the paradoxical nature of reality. I hope this article has been useful for the curious seeker. Bear in mind that other writers may well interpret spirituality in a different manner; however I believe the previous content resonates well with the core themes of most informal spiritual teaching.

To learn more about spirituality and life purpose be sure to visit the author’s blog today: http://www.aboutlifespurpose.com