The path to Tranquility (spring)
13. Fear leads to stubbornness
Fear makes the mind close like a snail. We can only stretch out from our
shells when we relax, but when faced with difficulties, we immediately retract. Fear makes us feel vulnerable and insecure,
slowly causing us to become unable to face reality and entering an unhealthy
state. In this state, we lose interest in new environments or things, and we
also cannot develop reliance for others in relationships.
In fact, fear has no other use except to make us escape faster. If we have a healthy body and enough consciousness, we have enough adaptability and can be fearless. Therefore, fear mostly stems from inferiority. We doubt our abilities and lack the courage and confidence to face the world. At this time, we may use feelings instead of consciousness and often shrink in the face of setbacks in life.
Accustomed to shrinking back, we are prone to magnify our shortcomings and ignore our strengths. If we are full of fear of the world, we will become more and more closed-minded and stubborn. Fear is actually a bias against ourselves and the world, and when we stubbornly insist on our own opinions, we become very persistent. Stubbornness is an unconscious state that can make us ignore our physical and mental health. Adhering to eating habits or indulging over emotional behavior, can put our lives in difficulty and danger.
Stubbornness makes us always seek comfort and stability and easily fall into the quagmire of fear and insecurity. Stubbornness also hinders us from accepting new knowledge and things, deepening prejudices and producing more fear. We must change our past life patterns and make a drastic transformation from mind to body.
Self-reflection, brave asking questions and expression are methods that can reduce fear and increase consciousness. By thinking more and communicating more, we can build good mutual-help relationships with others and gain their support. In this way, we can also enhance our adaptability to the environment, reducing fear, and relaxing the body and mind. In interaction with the outside world, we can also learn about a large number of new things, improving our cognitive abilities.
After reducing fear, our worldview will also change, no longer afraid of new things, so we will not continue to insist on our prejudices. If we are not stubborn, we can embrace uncertainty, accept all changes with ease and abandon past thoughts and habits. This is a good cycle, in which our consciousness will be enhanced.
With enough consciousness, we have a better self, and such a self will not have fear, so it does not need a hard shell and can face the world with a soft posture. When we can be as soft as water, we will have the courage to face any difficulties and obstacles and be able to move forward quickly.
12. Elegance comes from the harmony of body and mind
14. Living at ease depends on consciousness
