Posts Tagged fear

Day Three: Determination Wins Over Fear and Stubborness

January 1st, 2011 by Elizabeth

Who knew that having a tripod (or also lovingly called a “tripawd” at Tripawds.com ) would be like attending a personal development camp–a VERY  intense personal development camp. Thanks to Pebbs, I am getting real world experience flexing my personal evolution muscles.

As our adventure continues on Day Three*, the challenge also continues in encouraging her to increase her own strength and motivate her to get up and walk on her own. We had been using a towel–as we had researched- to act as a balancer once she is up on three legs. But Pebbles has a lovely quality of stubbornness, and no matter how much she has to “go”, she has not wanted to get up or accept any assistance from us whatsoever. She would cry and whine while making motions of trying to getting up, but when we would try to help her up, she would flop over on her back and side and become dead weight. This went on for some time, exhausting all 3 of us (and unnerving Pebbles’ brother Monty). Somehow we eventually got her up and outside, carrying her most of the way. Once we put her down in her usual spot, she soon lay down and the whole stubborn-refusal-to-allow-us-to-help act began all over again. The poor thing was so riddled with fear- something that gets in all of our ways when we  try to move forward, stopping us in our tracks, no matter how many appendages we have!

But after 30 minutes outside in the cold with worries of her lying on cold cement, I finally thought to myself–perhaps loudly enough so that she could hear– “you are just going to get up now whether you want to or not” and with a fierce determination lifted her up against all her snappy, whiny protests. We then scooped her up and carried her inside out of the cold.

But then, once inside, we were still faced with the dilemma of the fact that she had not done her business in over 48 hours. She began the whine song again and in a stroke of brilliance, Lennie thought to use a body pillow that we have as a support/sling so that she could feel more comfortable and not be in so much fear. She still fought us until I once again was flooded with pure determination to win over her stubbornness and fear and put her up on her feet no matter how hard she protested. This time we let her walk/hop out and about 20 minutes later she did what she had to do!

Maybe it’s also about being strong for our loved ones when they can’t be and they can’t see to the Truth of a situation. Once Pebbles was shown that there was no need to fear, she hopped along as best she could and began getting used to her new gait.

She also sees now that one doesn’t get a biskee for stubbornness– only for walking through fear with resolute determination and persistence. She is just so amazing. When I grow up, I hope I am half the Warrior Goddess that this sweet little being is!

*we are actually in Day Five of Pebbles New Adventure, but Tripawd Care doesn’t always afford time for blog posting!

I Love You

July 11th, 2009 by Elizabeth

Whenever you have a moment of fear, doubt, unworthiness, pain, suffering, loneliness, or sadness, remember the words that you about to hear below in this lovely, profound, tear-and-goosebump-inducing video from Joyce Meyer Ministries.

Here’s to you as you feel and know the Oneness of All That Is.

I hope you dance

February 18th, 2009 by Elizabeth

The power of fear…

It’s pretty impressive. It can send us into a downward spiral or corrupt the most peaceful moment. But it can be our secret friend that pushes us to heights we never thought possible; pushing us to fully dance with life. Many of us spend our time and our lives in distrust, hovering fearfully around the cliffs of change, chance, and possibility. We peek over the edge and spy the craggy rocks below. We look and we see pain, discomfort, and impossibility. So why should we jump? Why should we stretch? Why the heck should we venture out of our comfort zones? Where is the sense in that? Well, as a lifetime cliff dweller, I would like to share with you exactly why I feel that taking these leaps of faith is the only way we can soar and truly be who we are meant to be.

Just recently I looked over the edge of one of my steepest, most intense cliffs ever. It’s funny how these crazy heights sneak up on us. It happened in the blink of an eye one morning as I woke from a deep sleep. This day the craggy rocks below spoke to me of complete and devastating loss of EVERYTHING in my life. Their words took me to my knees. The pain was so unbearable that I swore I must have slipped and had been impaled on the sharp edges of the rocks below. Somehow I kept breathing and moving. The Universe sent a loved one to stop the bleeding and I kept moving. Then I realized that it was my life long buddy and pal Fear egging me on, daring me to jump in one of his most flamboyant attempts ever. It took some time, but eventually I found total surrender and gave Faith a chance. And in a very subtle moment of brilliance, I called Fear’s bluff and quietly stepped off the edge.  I discovered that when I took the leap of Faith and jumped off of the cliff, a wonderful thing happened. I found that just above the craggy rocks lies something quite amazing: beautifully and almost imperceptibly a net, which was once invisible before the leap, gracefully and lovingly appeared. It actually was always there and quite visible. I had just chosen not to see it.

So you see, the craggy rocks represent our fears and the net is the Love of the Universe or God (or however you choose to view it). The fear is so dense and dark and powerful that the light of our perception is doused with its intensity and all we can see, feel, hear, taste, and live is the smothering density of the fear.

So when we find ourselves in a less than empowered place, we tip-toe over to the cliff and see the fall and the rocks. Our stomachs churn and we make a hasty retreat  back to our path of least resistance. A little while later we think, “Hhmmm… Maybe I’ll just go take another look.”  Suddenly the craggy rocks have grown and are pointier than ever! So we make another hasty retreat back to the comfort zones of our cozy little lives. A few days later we may go wandering back to the cliff. The sights we see  become more and more disturbing each time we revisit this vista of what we now think is doom. Suddenly it becomes a monster in our minds and begins effecting all aspects of our lives–physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Our whole being is effected.

Perhaps you are wondering what that “subtle moment of brilliance” was all about as I stood at the edge of my most recent cliff. Well,  surrender and freedom can happen anywhere. That day it happened for me in the United Airlines baggage check-in line at LAX. My suffering was unbearable until I remembered one simple thing: the Universe is my Source for EVERYTHING. With that sudden realization I was able to feel the safety of the Light and I gracefully floated off of the cliff as I stared directly at the rocks.

So what I’m sharing is this: Perhaps we can stop looking. Stop thinking. Stop retreating and just jump. Perhaps we can take the leap and choose to dance with life instead of letting fear take away our dancing shoes and keep us safely tucked in the comfort zone of stagnation. It may feel nice and cozy, but the results of that choice do not reflect our True Selves or help us to attain the much coveted title of Empowered Being. I can say this as I have played the cliff dance many a time in my life. But the net is stronger and mightier than any rock anywhere ever. My most recent leap has assured me of that.

But something else happened when I was out there flying in the air with the wind in my face, engaging in life, and staring deeply into the face of those scary rocks: by trusting and choosing to dance instead of just sitting it out on the edge of the cliff, not only did the net appear, but I found myself flying in mid-air.

Sometimes our fears keep us from taking a chance; from moving forward and enjoying and swaying to the beautiful rhythms of life. So I lovingly suggest that the next time you see a cliff in front of you, make a choice. Instead of choosing to sit it out, I hope you dance.

Here’s to your amazing flight with the Universe beneath your wings.

Allow the beautiful music and lyrics of Lee Ann Womack to touch, inspire, and nourish your soul.

Are You Just Gonna Let Some Bully Stand In Your Way?

January 17th, 2009 by Elizabeth

Did you know that we are all innately great multitaskers? It certainly is apparent to me, as I can be feeding my dogs, listening to the radio, talking to a friend, and while all this is  going on, I can be listening to and hearing clearly that little voice in my head telling me all kinds of stuff.  Yeah, you know about that “stuff”.

It’s really a game ya know. But who’s gonna win? Unfortunately, some of us are not into this competition and just roll over and allow the onslaught. I seem to have an unending fascination with this topic as seen in my  January 4th post, but bear with me as I feel this is truly a topic worth exploring!

So what is that little voice really all about? What the heck is that bully up to? You see, it really thinks it is trying to protect us; to keep us safe. And it, being the ego,  is trying to protect itself too. Quite the dichotomy.

So I’ll be bold here and share with you one of the things my little voice really enjoys trying to do with me (I am guessing that it enjoys it because sometimes it can do it so well…).  It so often tricks me into playing small and into not seeing my greatness by telling me how much better everyone else is, how I just can’t do it, and how I will surely fail. What a mouthful!

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