Someone asked me recently “What do I do when that tremendous fear comes up?” Fear is a very destructive emotion, but it is a telling one and should not be repressed. I remember being so afraid I wouldn’t be able to pay my bills at the end of the month that I would literally have panic attacks in the middle of the night. I’d wake up with that terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. What did I do?

Well, at first I tried to repress it. That didn’t work. The only answer I had was to repeat mantras. My favorite one for money was always, “God is the source and substance of my supply.” I used this and other mantras often. Whenever I needed them. What I didn’t realize at the time and I think that is why it took me so long, was that I needed to use them when I was in a state of gratitude too. I needed to continually use my mantras until they really changed my consciousness. Every fear I had or have is based in something I believe in consciousness.

Mantras or affirmations or anything that we repeat over and over truly work. Of course, if you do not believe they will work, they won’t. It is done unto us as we believe. It is true with everything.

Fear is the opposite of faith. When we have fear it means that we do not truly believe that we are sustained by Spirit. I always loved the story of Jesus telling his disciples that the reason they couldn’t heal others was that they didn’t have the faith of God. The faith in God was not enough.

Do I still have fears? Of course, I do. But, the difference now is that I am aware of them and I know how to work with them. Mantras and affirmations followed by contemplation on their meaning and truly feeling them brings peace and understanding and faith to every experience. Letting go and realizing that I cannot control life, only my perception of it, gives me peace.

So, to get back to the first question: What do I do when that tremendous fear comes up? I just keep practicing and practicing.

Love and Aloha,

Rev. Rita