Below are my tentative fear countermeasure statements (my first drafts, if you will), that when I have fears arise from one or more of the Four Sources of Fear that I’ve written about, I’ll hopefully have these little countermeasures automatically pop their little heads up to help me fight the good fight against fear.
I say hopefully automatically because beginning this coming week, I am going to start my continuing and dedicated efforts to manufacture opportunities for me to face fear. During each of these manufactured opportunities, I will present these bad boy statements to my fear, hopefully aiding me in sending that given fear packing.
It is my hope that after having put myself through enough of these controlled/manufactured fear experiences, these statements will begin to automatically kick in when spontaneous fear experiences arise, and I will no longer need to practice bringing them in purposefully because they will have become automatic.
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When I have fears about my life or the things in my life turning out differently than I want them to, I’ll say the following to myself:
Because my heart is good, and because I’m giving a worthy and sincere effort to do good, be good, and to follow God, I can trust that because God is all knowing, all wise, all powerful and all loving, no matter what happens in my life, even if it doesn’t turn out how I’d hoped, in the end, it will turn out the best way possible for everyone involved, and God will bless me with all the joy and peace and happiness that it’s possible to receive. I will lose nothing. I will eventually have everything I could ever hope for, and the promises will be fulfilled.
If I ever have doubts or fears about my own heart–that it isn’t good or good enough, that I won’t eventually choose love over selfishness in every choice and circumstance–I will say the following to myself:
Stephen, you know who you are. Your heart is love. You’ve seen it over and over and over again. All you have to do to remind yourself is look at what you want for the world and everyone in it. Go ahead, tell yourself. What do you want for every one and everything in the world?
When I face fears that are based in not having my prideful desires come true, I will say the following to myself:
Stephen, remember, your deepest desire is to love perfectly. In all reality, you don’t want this anyway because it’s selfish, and you’ve made a goal to be filled with love and to be free of all selfishness. Let this desire go. Let it float away on the wind. Focus on what you want most–to love like God does. That is your deepest desire. Don’t let this or anything else get in your way.
When I face fears that are based on the anticipation of intense physical pain, I will say the following to myself:
Pain isn’t permanent. Yes, it hurts, but pain and suffering can build your character, help you to become softer, more compassionate, more understanding, more forgiving, more gentle, more empathetic, more grateful. In fact, pain can be a tool you can use to increase in all these and many more beautiful characteristics you wish to have. Look upon pain as your friend and teacher, and look forward to the greater good you can accomplish having come through the other side of this.
Lift the World 