| Everyday Wisdom: Spiritual
Guidance for Daily Life by Paul Ferrini Awareness Beneath the judgment layer of the mind is the witness who sees what is going on without judging it. The witness neither resists thoughts nor identifies with them, but simply observes them as they come and go, with all their elaborate interpretations and justifications. When we get quiet, we become the witness. Thoughts come and go, but we know that we are not those thoughts. We begin to rest in something larger than thought, something that holds those thoughts compassionately. You can call it awareness. You can call it silence. It is the place from which thoughts spring and to which they return. There, mind is clear, like the surface of a lake when there is no wind. There, mind is at peace. A Healthy Relationship with Our Fear We have an unhealthy relationship with our fear when we allow it to prevent us from taking risks that are essential to our growth or when we ignore our fear and insist on taking risks we are not ready to take. We need to avoid these extremes. We have a healthy relationship with our fear when we acknowledge it when it comes up, without giving it permission to run our lives. We may take a step or two back when we feel overwhelmed, but then we take several steps forward toward our goal. We don't stay stuck in one place, nor do we venture out completely unprepared for the conditions we might face. We take reasonable and appropriate risks. Little by little, we stretch our comfort zones. Paul Ferrini is the author of 28 books on practical spirituality. His work goes beyond self-help and recovery into the heart of healing and has helped thousands of people deepen their practice of forgiveness and open their hearts to divine presence in themselves and other. You can contact him through Heartways Press, 1-888-HARTWAY, heartway@crocker.com or visit his website www.paulferrini.com. Copyright © 2003 Paul Ferrini |
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