Hug That Monster
One couple spent a holiday driving in the mountains. "Every time you
race around one of those narrow curves," exclaimed the wife, "I just
get terrified."
"Then do what I do," suggested her husband. "Close your eyes!"
We are all afraid at times, but closing our eyes is not always a
helpful way through fear. Better to open your eyes and face those
fears head-on.
In 1972 David Miln Smith had such an opportunity. Smith, an
adventurer, author and professional speaker, decided to spend a night
alone in St. Michael's Cave on the island of Gibraltar as a test of
courage. In his book HUG THE MONSTER (Kansas City: Andrews and McMeel,
1996), he tells of hearing strange sounds all around him as he lay
there in the pitch-black, damp, deserted cave. Most frightening was
the fact that he came to believe he was not alone!
Fear became panic and he was afraid he was losing his mind. Then
suddenly, as he was approaching his psychological breaking point,
Smith thought to himself, "Whatever the monster looks like, I will hug
it." That simple, almost silly thought brought great relief to his
restless mind. He soon fell into a deep and peaceful sleep until
morning. He learned that embracing his fear, literally or
figuratively, allowed him to subdue it.
We each have our nights of fear. We each encounter monsters of some
sort. We may fear spiders or insects, heights or crowds, abandonment
or loneliness, the future or death. And most of us are occasionally
visited by shadows of these monsters in the dark of night.
The next time you're afraid, try "hugging the monster." Face that fear
head-on, whatever it is, and embrace it. You may be surprised at how
quickly it slips away and at how confident you begin to feel.Like
that beautiful spirit Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You gain strength,
courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look
fear in the face."
Do you have a monster to hug?
~ Steve Goodier ~
[ by: Steve Goodier (LifeSupport@yahoogroups.com) -- {used with permission} ]
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