Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month


Today's somewhat brief post is a NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) prompt with the following questions, "If you could permanently get rid of one worry, what would it be?"

I have seen a similar question on Facebook and my answer is either "fear" or "hatred." However, I realize that they are one and the same for underneath hatred is fear.

There are a number of emotions that actually fall under fear including anger, anxiety, doubt, worry, and the like. Think of them all as a mountain or better yet an iceberg, with fear being the ice below the surface. It is like a big monster that destroys in its path.

Today in the western world is Remembrance Day, a day to honour by remembering those in the armed forces who died while serving their country, i.e., in the line of duty (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day). We take a minute at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month, being today as I write this.

Since Canada is peacekeeping country, we have sent members of the armed forces to serve in peacekeeping missions such as in Afghanistan; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canadian_peacekeeping_missions for details.

If there was no such thing as hatred or fear, would there be war? I think the answer is obvious.

Some quotes on love and fear I would like to share are as follows: Marianne Williamson, a noted spiritual author says, "Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we learned here." Oprah Winfrey states, "I believe that every single event in life happens in an opportunity to choose love over fear." Or for those attuned to the Bible, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear..." similarly stated to the book, A Course in Miracles which declares, "Perfect love casts out fear. If fear exists, then there is not perfect love."

Interesting that most people think fear is the opposite of love. However, keep in mind that fear is underneath hatred.

Which do you usually choose? And now? (And no worries, I'm not perfect either! However, it's a daily and minute-by-minute decision.)

And by the way, for a change, I am not posting this on the 11th hour (near midnight) on this day! ;)

Linking this post to Write Tribe Bloggers.

P.S. The video on this particular post is very appropriate today if you wish a view: http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/08/middle-child-you-are-special-todays.html

34 comments:

  1. Those are some inspiring quotes, Elly. I never thought of fear as opposite of love. For me considering the situations right now I think I will choose uncertainty. Dealing with a lot of that lately. But I guess my answer might change tomorrow ;)

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    1. I love those quotes too Vinitha. :) Most people think hate or hatred is the opposite of fear as I originally did. I hope your uncertainty dissolves to clarity tomorrow! ;) <3

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  2. Thank you for this inspirational post, with such thought-provoking quotes. Much to ponder on this day of remembrance.

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    1. Thanks Laurel! Glad you enjoyed it. Love those quotes too. ;) <3

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  3. I think fear is a tool of Evil. Yes, 'Evil', with a capital E.

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    1. Yes, I would think it is Melissa. However, let's all focus on love as the more we focus on that and peace for example, the more we can create that, but it all starts with us. :) <3

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  4. Very inspiring post - Elly. I love your choice of quotes and why you chose them.
    Dorit Sasson
    author of Accidental Author: What My Service in the Israel Defense Forces Taught Me about Faith, Courage and Love
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Silence/544969778951513

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    1. Thanks Dorit, I'm glad you found this post and the quotes inspiring. :) <3

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  5. Such an interesting, soul searching topic. I love it. If I could erase one fear I think it would be my fear of not being accepted. I'm a recovering people-pleaser and that fear is so deeply ingrained in my soul it's scary at times. I am getting better but to have it be erased completely? I'd take it!

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    1. I'm glad you found it so Ashley. Not being accepted is a valid fear, and yet at the same time is an illusion. The ideal is for you to begin with yourself, that is, accept yourself and eventually others will too. And if they don't, that is their problem, not yours. Not everyone will like you, ever. You can't please everyone all the time; however, you can yourself. I'm glad you are on your journey in healing this as it is a common addiction. ;) <3

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  6. Interesting question to ponder. I think fear is a tool of the spiritually ignorant (brings back Jesus's words: forgive them Father, they know not what they do). So, if I could permanently get rid of one worry, it would have to be ignorance.
    :-)

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    1. Yes, I can see that Penny. I think that fear is beneath hatred which is usually fuelled by ignorance. That is a good one to focus on in terms of erasing it. In order to do that, the focus would need to be on its opposite which is knowledge or awareness. That would certainly change things around! ;) <3

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  7. Interesting...You know Elly I won't lie , there have been times and people when hatred has been my first reaction...And no it was not fear but hurt and insult that had triggered that...I try , I try to not let hate or dislike engulf me but on some days and for some people it just seems to come naturally...And the one thing emotion wise that I could get rid of would be to stop feeling bad about taking a tough stand , when I know I'm right...

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    1. Interesting Nabanita as I can so relate to your words in terms of a recent incident: I'm not perfect either! ;) I would say this is where forgiveness comes in for the other and more importantly ourselves, even though we may be in the right. I get you. I totally understand. I've been there. ;) <3

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  8. Indeed behind hatred is fear! Now thts true for social causes. But do you think tht holds good even for baseless hatred tht people have for each other?

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    1. I am tempted to turn that question around to you Mina! ;) However, I would say that in that case, ignorance is key. And yet, underneath that ignorance is fear as well. See Penny McDaniel's comment and my reply to her above. ;) <3

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  9. This reminds me of the song from the musical South Pacific. It goes ...'You've got to be taught to love and hate ...' Consider a baby in all it's innocence. How did that child grow to be bigoted or cruel? There's always a reason.

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  10. Fear ruins dreams before they even stand a chance...certainly have in my case!

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    1. For sure Kathy! Sometimes it's a challenge to change our thinking, but it is possible. ;) <3

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  12. Beautiful post, because I also believe that fear and hatred are all one - the fear of the "other". We humans are territorial creatures, hard wired also (I believe) to believe that our band, our tribe, our country, is our territory (and, leading from that, a belief that our tribe is superior to all others). What was one of the things that Americans did immediately after the terrorist attacks of 9/11? They wiped stores clean of every American flag they could find, flew them on lawns, flew them from car antennas bought lapel pins and wore flag pins on their shirts and suits. Why? To mark our territory, perhaps? For those reasons, even if fear and hatred disappeared, I still think there would be such a thing as war. Sad but true, thinking of the War that Didn't End All Wars, Not By a Long Shot. Alana

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    1. Alana, you share some interesting thoughts here. And I concur with humans having this need to mark their territory which can fuel a them vs. us mentality, thus fear and hatred. And definitely no such thing as a war to end all wars. ;) <3

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  13. Imagine there's no Heaven / It's easy if you try
    No Hell below us / Above us only sky

    Imagine all the people / Livin' for today

    Imagine there's no countries / It isn't hard to do
    Nothing to kill or die for / And no religion too

    Imagine all the people / Livin' life in peace

    You may say I'm a dreamer / But I'm not the only one
    I hope someday you'll join us / And the world will be as one

    Imagine no possessions / I wonder if you can
    No need for greed or hunger / A brotherhood of man

    You may say I'm a dreamer / But I'm not the only one
    I hope someday you'll join us / And the world will live as one
    ~ John Lennon

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    1. Exactly Mary! ;) I was thinking of that song with John Lennon's quote above. <3

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  14. Fear can only rob us of what we give it power over. Once we recognize it for what it is, and determine in our hearts that we will strive against it, we can begin to make the journey back to love that we were created to be. Great post!

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    1. Well said Carrie! I don't think I could have said it better! ;) <3

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  15. Interesting to ponder this today as the subject of fear has come up a lot recently. There is a fear of success that keeps us from achieving the things we actually could.
    "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matt 6:34 NIV

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    1. It's good to note when things come up repeatedly Barbara as usually it's an indication to pay attention! ;) I understand re. the fear of success.... Great scripture quote that encaptures the essence of worry: thanks for sharing that. :) <3

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  16. I found it interesting (and really, a bit "spooky") that I happened to look at the clock twice on 11/11 to find it was 11:11am and 1:11pm! I even mentioned that on Facebook! Then I read Kathy Hadley's blog post about repetitive numbers, which was as equally thought-provoking as your post here.

    Yes, there are numerous references in the Bible with references about how to deal with fear - and how love is the antithesis of fear, and is the power that can drive fear away.

    Here is a quote by Joyce Meyer that I recently included in a blog post:

    "Insecurity, self-doubt, and fear can totally prevent us from ever reaching our full potential….where there is potential, all the parts necessary for success are there, but they are not yet put into action. Potential cannot manifest without form. What stands in the space between potential and manifestation? I believe it is three things: time, determination, and hard work!"

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    1. I find it interesting that you came from a place of fear rather than curiousity regarding the repetitive numbers. When this occurred for me a few years ago, I asked people about it until I got an answer which led me to the book Kathy mentioned on her post I believe. ;) Fear can certainly stop us in our tracks and love is certainly the way to overcome it. Thanks for sharing! :) <3

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  17. Elly, I feel fear and hatred are two distinct feelings. In the case of fear only 'we' are there. I can be fearful whether I will get a promotion or not. No one else is in the picture. But if my promotion is delayed or rejected due to a particular person, the question of hatred arises.

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    1. Ah, that's an interesting comment Usha. A great insight! However, there is also self-hatred too. ;) Thanks for sharing. :) <3

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  18. Thanks for another wonderful post. Where else could anybody get that type of info in such an ideal way of writing?
    a course in miracles

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