Fearless Living

Step back and take a look at your life. More importantly, how you think about your life. In this case, life means your daily activities and responsibilities and relationships. Do you approach each day with anticipation, looking forward to the good things that will happen? Or do you begin the day–mentally–dreading what’s ahead, creating anxiety?

If you’ve followed me for a while, you may remember that my word for last year was Fearless. At first I didn’t like that word because it reminded me of a pushy salesman, who barges in and talks loud. I don’t know where my association with that word came from, but there it was. Continuing to search for my One Word for 2014, and trying to get away from the word Fearless, it was no use. That was the one.

Before long, I realized that an effect of fear is anxiety. Next revelation: I was living much of my life in fear. Oh, I didn’t call it that. “Stress” is a popular word, and we use it in a way that implies that it happens TO us, and we’re helpless victims. Utter the words “I’m so stressed out” and people will nod in an understanding way.

For many years, from the time I opened my eyes in the morning, I was dreading and fretting and worrying and assuming the worst about the day ahead. In fact, I was dreading the next two weeks and the events coming up in a few months. Every little responsibility and to-do was met with an automatic association of anxiety.

You may wonder if I was cowering in my bedroom, afraid to venture out into the world. Oh no, everything looked normal. I managed to get through most days without a breakdown. But after years of living like this, my body couldn’t take it anymore and I began to experience physical problems like autoimmune issues and adrenal fatigue.

At that point, my life changed as I sought answers for my health issues, and learned better ways to deal with stress and anxiety. T-Tapp exercise was the beginning of my wellness journey and it’s still an important part of my life. Plexus made a HUGE difference in my thoughts, believe it or not. I had no idea that there was such a strong connection between brain function and blood sugar. It was a relief to find that my battle with discouraging thoughts was deeply physical rather than spiritual, and what a surprise when much of the bombarding thoughts faded away.

But of course old habits die hard, especially habits of thought. The Bible instructs us to take every thought captive and to renew our minds and this is exactly what it takes to overcome living in fear. I remain vigilant about a clenched jaw and fists, hunched shoulders or a furrowed brow—physical evidence of thoughts gone astray.

It’s still a journey, but I’m grateful for growth. Living in constant anxiety about everyday tasks is a waste of good life. Troubles will still come, but God will give the grace and strength for them at that moment.

For God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7