By now the world is familiar with one of today’s worst horror stories that concluded with a happy ending. And we certainly need happy endings in these days and times amidst fighting fear in our own lives.
Can you imagine how it must have felt to be stuck 2000 feet under the surface of the earth for 17 days without knowing if anyone was even looking for you? The fear that mounted must have been overpowering.
Even upon being discovered, it still took a total of 69 days before their survival was guaranteed. And yet all 33 of the men who had been trapped survived. They worked together as a unit and despite whatever disagreements may have occurred, they worked together for their mutual survival and made it.
It was a rescue, as President Obama says, that “inspired the world.”
It is an inspiration that shows us that the best way to fight our fear is to look to the good. Realize that the fear can do us know good and see what the higher options are.
Each of the bellies that house the depths of our fears look differently. What is fearful for me may not be for you. I may be alone and afraid of losing my home but you have friends and family that are more than willing to help you out, so that is not a fear for you.
You might be afraid of starving but I have food growing in my back yard that allows me to eat. It is not a fear for me.
The thing to remember, though, is that fearing loss or lack is guaranteed to amplify that with which we are concerned. You conjure lack of food, that is what you are going to get. You invoke lack of living space, that is what you are going to get. You fear illness and you will get sick. Count on it.
While we may never know what techniques the miners used to fight their fear but one thing was certain. They took each day, one at a time. And they certainly stayed in the moment. The roof may collapse even further tomorrow, but right now – at this moment – everything is as fine as it can be.
How is your “right now”? What is happening in your current moment? Learning to live in the present moment is the best weapon in fighting fear.