Seneca on Fears

“You act like mortals in all that you fear, and like immortals in all that you desire” ~ Seneca

There are times when my thoughts turn to negativity or fear. That often surprises people, though, I am not sure why exactly. I do try and work through it as quickly as I can, using my Intuition and connecting with my Higher Self through meditation.  I have learned to embrace the emotions as they come forth, bless them, and finally send them on their way to be healed. Even then, still there are times that persist. The Human Ego.

There are times when the feelings and emotions just want to hang around, like an annoying ex-lover who just doesn't seem to want to let go OR to be healed. The more you try, the more restless you become. So I stop completely and find a distraction.  Last night was one such night. After tossing and turning, I gave into the restlessness and turned on my Tablet. I have said it before and I'll say it again, synchronicity is a delightful spice of life.

Through a string of coincidences, during a Facebook conversation with a gentleman in regards to something entirely different, I was directly led to the teachings of Seneca on Fear. I can't say whether or not I have heard them before, because it really doesn't matter, all I know is that upon reading the first line, I was both mezmorized and enchanted.  Odd.

Let's see where it takes us❤

'The mind at times fashions for itself false shapes of evil when there are no signs that point to any evil; it twists into the worst construction some word of doubtful meaning; or it fancies some personal grudge to be more serious than it really is, considering not how angry the enemy is, but to what lengths he may go if he is angry. But life is not worth living, and there is no limit to our sorrows, if we indulge our fears to the greatest possible extent.'

-From Seneca's essay on Groundless Fears

I am not sure if I agree with, ... but life is not worth living. But then again, it may describe someone battling depression, with thoughts of suicide. So as I pondered to completely understand its meaning, to me, I went through various writings. And it began to make sense to me. I decided to share, just in case there is someone out there in need of a little nudge. 

I do not know the order of letters or paragraphs, all I know is that it opened the fear to allow me to kick that fear right out on its backside! Here is what I read...

'It makes perfect sense, but what we do not do is seek out the situations that we fear, so that we can face them head on. If you were afraid of something, why not throw yourself at it and see what it truly is. What were you truly afraid of? Is it even worth that fear? Doing so will only ease your fear when the stakes may be much higher and provide you a strength that can’t be found in any other way.'

Most fear is irrational, based on past experiences, advice from a friend, a movie we saw, an article that we read, or even a teaching. I do believe that we know this deep down, but that certainly does not stop us! ... the writings continued...

'I don’t know why or how we do it, but when we’re afraid of something, we have a knack for coming up with the worse possible outcome we can imagine. We can get impressively creative when it comes to imagining scenarios that we think will happen to us. We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.  Accordingly,  

Some things torment us more than they ought; some torment us before they ought;  and some torment us when they ought not to torment us at all!. 

We are in the habit of exaggerating, or imagining, or anticipating, sorrow.'

This is learned. 

'Often times, it is not even you who are afraid or have any issues with what’s ahead, but others that plant these ideas in your mind. When people don’t understand what you’re trying to do, when they are envious or jealous or pessimistic, they will fill your head with negativity and fears. You have to be aware of this and not let it hold you back.

We agree too quickly with what people say. We do not put to the test those things which cause our fear; we do not examine into them; we blench and retreat just like soldiers who are forced to abandon their camp because of a dust-cloud raised by stampeding cattle, or are thrown into a panic by the spreading of some unauthenticated rumour. And somehow or other it is the idle report that disturbs us most. 

Accordingly, weigh carefully your hopes as well as your fears, and whenever all the elements are in doubt, decide in your own favour; believe what you prefer.  And if fear wins a majority of the votes, incline in the other direction anyhow, and cease to harass your soul, reflecting continually that most mortals, even when no troubles are actually at hand or are certainly to be expected in the future, become excited and disquieted. No one calls a halt on himself, when he begins to be urged ahead; nor does he regulate his alarm according to the truth.

What does it avail to run out to meet your suffering? You will suffer soon enough, when it arrives; so look forward meanwhile to better things. What shall you gain by doing this? Time…The mind at times fashions for itself false shapes of evil when there are no signs that point to any evil; it twists into the worst construction some word of doubtful meaning… But life is not worth living, and there is no limit to our sorrows, if we indulge our fears to the greatest possible extent... in the end, the most important point is to remember that fear is doing one thing, preventing us from living the life we desire.

If only each of us had our own good friends who could write thoughtful insights to us now and then!  So if you are suffering from such groundless fears, then take heart in what he’s saying and notice that things aren’t as scary as you may be making them out to be.  Pay attention, explore your fears, and understand what they really are. If you do so, you’ll notice that you can overcome them. And with that, I turned the light and fell silently asleep.

The fool, with all his innocence and faults, he brings his gift... he is always preparing to live.