How do you deal with fear?

This depends on what I think I am afraid of. Fear is an indicator, a signal. There are rational fears that I need to pay attention to because they indicate situations that might result in harm to me (such as reckless drivers, bottomless drops off of cliffs, the guy who has been married and divorced (worse: widowed) five times, and my cat when I have forgotten to feed her . . .

Other times, I am namelessly afraid or afraid of things that go bump in the night. Again, an indicator of something I need to look at. Generally, within the examination, I find the story that has caused me to doubt myself and think that I am less than I am.

The thing that I fear the most, however, is that I might harm others.

Regardless of what scares me, I find two very important things give me comfort: first, I can always act and take care of myself in spite of my fear; second, I was born with everything I need to endure, resolve, cope, heal, be, defend, and continue. My certainty that I will continue to exist eternally sustains me. barbara