#choosingloveoverfear

[thisunfoldinglife]

Choosing Love Over Fear: The Transformation of the World

In December of 2012, the world was supposed to come to an end. The Mayans, who were a significantly advanced culture that collapsed in 900 A.D., left us their calendar which cryptically ended its 5,126-year-long cycle in 2012. Many believed that their calendar end was an apocalyptic prediction and a host of doomsday information infiltrated the web and media; some believed it would be a time for large scale transformation and rebirth. I was pregnant with my daughter for the majority of 2012 and I too worried about these shadowy forecasts. Of course the world didn't come to its conclusion then. It’s laughable those innocent fears now, based on almost nothing, when we are all staring a world-wide pandemic in the face.

Friday, I couldn’t stop crying. The thought of not hugging my friends, seeing my relatives, losing my business, watching people die and economies crash was just too overwhelming. The fears kept hitting me in giant tidal waves, knocking me down to drown in despair. I spoke with a friend who described the feeling as being in mourning. And like all those who experience loss, we agreed that relief comes from acceptance rather than resistance. But like a toddler, I wanted to throw a tantrum, and scream that someone’s taken away my teddy, my security blanket! The virus certainly woke the selfish beast in me when confronted with the realities of assuring survival. It's ignited negative behaviour everywhere, leaving people in a panic to fight over food and supplies, among other things. Like frightened children, we've been left alone, waiting for someone to scoop us up and relieve us of all this fear! This invisible criminal has left us feeling small, weak, and shamefully humbled.

But there are many who have chosen to choose love over fear. In the last week, we have witnessed millions of people coming together to support one another in profound and majestic ways. The outpourings of hope and comradery, the offerings of help, and the positivity even, the levity, is becoming contagious. We haven’t seen the worst of this pandemic, but hopefully we will see the best of humankind.

2020 may see humans symbolically embracing each other on such an unprecedented vast global scale. Perhaps the divisions between country and race can crumble enough to tear down walls we never thought we could demolish. Our care for each other is boundless. And our strength at this time is a collective force that is building with each individual rising up and surrendering to love rather than to fear.

And what does fear provide us with anyway? It immobilises us. It deceives us. It selfishly favours individuals over communities. When the panic finds its way into our beings, let us overcome it through gratitude. Let us eradicate it by singing all the things we are grateful for. If this virus has given us anything useful at all, it is the remembrance of what is truly important in this life. Virtues like connection, love, generosity, and empathy, are rising in value above anything material.

I am devastated by the people this pandemic has taken in death. I’m angry that it’s separating us from our loved ones, and systematically removing our freedom of will and motion. But we must be stronger than our sadness and anger, and choose love and hope whenever we begin to despair.  The world as we know it is in transformation, but perhaps it is not an ending. It could very well be a beginning. People are shifting everywhere. People are connecting in magical ways, sharing and building, and exploring new directions. They are embracing valuable time with their families, reconnecting with drifted friends, spending time in nature and re-evaluating what nourishes their very existence. I’ve never been more impressed and awestruck by my fellow human beings. We are all passengers on an awakened global trajectory with a truly unknown destination. Where we land after this mess, is a scary thought. But I know in my heart, the new world can hold much more love and kindness than the old one. And so I’ll keep choosing love and gratitude over fear. And, as a friend, a sister, a mother, and a human, I’ll send out love to my global family in a way I never have before.