Choose Growth Over Fear

Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. Today we're going to talk about how to choose growth over fear. So when we train in mindfulness, we're training in becoming more aware. And that means becoming more aware of everything, not only the things that we like about ourselves and the world, the things that are pleasant and enjoyable, but also the things that might be more unpleasant or difficult to see. Things we may not like, things that might even be uncomfortable or even a bit scary.

Now this might sound like a bit of a strange idea, right? That we would ever want to bring our attention to the things that are unpleasant. But the paradox here is, is that it's only by shining the light of awareness on what we might call the darker parts of ourselves that we can be set free from them. Now this is a really big part of how we grow and heal as people. But we really do need to see before we can be free. Now we have this habit, a lot of us, you know, sometimes we avoid or ignore things that we don't like, or we find difficult to see.

Sometimes we push them down or distract ourselves from them. But when we do this ongoing, we often stay really stuck in old patterns, you know, and our potential to learn and grow is stifled. And we affect ourselves, others and the world around us with unconscious behaviors, you know, behaviors influenced by what was laying just beneath the surface of our awareness. So by looking at ourselves, honestly, gently and courageously, you know, being open to seeing the things we don't like or hard to face, and we'd bring into full consciousness, things that can be healed, changed and released. We often become a lot more kind in the process too.

So we might begin practicing mindfulness thinking that it's going to help us rise above all the difficulties see in our lives. But after some time we realize mindfulness is not about escaping all that stuff or getting rid of it. It's about meeting those challenges when they arise with compassion, grace and inner strength as best we can. So as much as possible, not seeing the uncomfortable or the unliked parts of ourselves as an obstacle or something to reject or be afraid of, but rather as opportunities for healing, growth and awakening. And in this way, each time you find yourself facing the hard stuff, you're choosing growth over fear.

So as always thank you for your practice and your presence here. We truly appreciate it. And now let's settle in for today's practice.