09/12/2025
The state of our nation and the state of our humanity is under threat. If one thing can’t be argued, it is that.
Threat elicits fear. What happens when we feel afraid?
Everything narrows - our vision, our judgement, our body, our mind, our focus.
Whether we like it or not, our survival instincts activate and protection mode usually dominates. It takes incredible skill to have clarity about what is actually happening and resist and adjust from this tight, limited space. But it is a crucial skill, because in the open space beyond the small surface area of fear is where wisdom, compassion and resilience live.
Why is the skill of widening and opening so important? Because it motivates us to connect rather than disconnect - with ourselves, others, and the world. Disconnection is our kryptonite. In openness we take in the whole, instead of fragmented parts, and this moves us towards possibility vs the certainty of our own limited view.
I have zero answers for the unending questions about the future and well-being of our world and each other that overwhelm us. However, I do know something that will help…
See if you can catch yourself when you begin to narrow (when your jaw clenches, your breath shallows, and you laser focus on something or someone) and instead pause and see if you have the courage to allow yourself to open - let your shoulders relax, take a deep breath, and shift into the strengths of curiosity, compassion, and clarity.
Notice what happens.
Here is an article from Center for Healthy Minds that describes how to support yourself in moving from fear to compassion.
https://open.substack.com/pub/dharmalabco/p/fear-narrows-compassion-widens?r=5x406i&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
And lastly, dare to believe in a force greater than yourself. Personally for me, faith keeps me from stumbling in the dark, so I can walk with hope toward the light. That helps too.
