This is a time of fear for many people, fears that are economic, political, climatic and medical.  Plus our usual lists of fears.  When scary things happen or threaten, fear can be a helpful response if it motivates us to take effective action. 

When it fails to do that it can just make us suffer.  Maybe there’s nothing we can do to prevent what we fear but seriously, if that’s so, why be miserable in the meantime?  Like Mark Twain said, “Some of the worst things in my life never happened.”

Once we’ve done what we can about disruptions in the economy or the world’s slide into authoritarianism on a rapidly less habitable planet where a killer virus is spreading, fear has lost its value.  On this topic, a teacher once told how animals in a wildfire will dig or dive or run their best and once they’re secure, they stop and tremble, just shaking until that motivating feeling has finished running through their bodies.

Whatever alarms us inhabits our bodies at least as much as our minds.  When unease has no use, it needs to be calmed like a frightened child.  Trying to talk ourselves out of being scared may seem logical but it’s usually futile.  Our feelings don’t follow the laws of logic.  Residual stress needs to be soothed at the level the body experiences it, like those beasts trembling once they’re safe. 

The best way to approach fear is through the body during meditation, with enough concentration to cut off thoughts about what scares you, so you can focus exclusively on how that fear has made the body feel.   Then envision holding that feeling the way a mother takes her child into her arms, and whispers, “There, there, it’s all right.  I’m here, it’s OK.”

Then if you think of something more you can do to protect yourself or your loved ones or society, then do that.  And if you need to, spend time compassionately holding any more feelings of fear that come up.