“The price of our vitality is the sum of all our fears.” David Whyte
Here’s a definition of vitality: vitality is the peculiarity distinguishing the living from the nonliving.
According to the poet David Whyte, the price we must pay for being fully alive is the sum of all our fears.
As we get older, we collect fears. Most are irrational—a narrative we’ve seen or heard that has nothing to do with us—but for some reason, we associate with it and we adopt it into our psyche. We add it to our operating system.
We hear about a scandal on the evening news or watch a movie that ends in disaster and we absorb the fear narrative that comes with it. This happens more than we know, and most often the fears lie in our subconscious, fairly dormant, until we are inspired to try something new, then, from seemingly nowhere, fear surfaces and keeps us from being fully alive. It suffocates our vitality.
The good news is we can do something to combat these irrational fears. Prayer and meditation can help us rewire these irrational thoughts.
Recently, I found myself wrapped up in fears I couldn’t even identify, so I created a meditation. Next time you find yourself overwhelmed or fearful, I encourage you to repeat the below meditation to yourself at least five times while breathing calmly.
Here’s how to use it. Find a chair in a comfortable room with low lighting.
As you breathe in, say or think the ‘breathe in’ statement.
Then, breathe out and say or think the ‘breathe out’ statement.
As you breathe in: My life is expandingAs you breathe out: My fear is leavingIn: Today is rich with opportunityOut: My focus will be on the positiveIn: More energy and power are enteringOut: Negativity is fleeingIn: I’m attracting good peopleOut: I’m letting go of those holding me backIn: I’m becoming healthier and wiserOut: I’m releasing weakness and diseaseIn: My future is limitlessOut: I’m letting go of the past
If you find yourself turning your nose up at this exercise for any reason, remember your future will largely be determined by your thoughts.
The price of our vitality is the sum of all our fears. Find a way to trade in your fears for true living.
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