I was hopeful that my previous four posts would help alleviate fear and FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real), but fear and FEAR seem to be issues that keep popping up even for those doing the Recipe and seeing results. So, here is another go at it: Get out of your mind and into your heart, choose faith over fear, and fearlessly be your own cure for Parkinson’s!
Last December, I posted a trailer for a movie called After Earth because it looked like a good movie, I really like Will Smith, and it had an important message about fear. The movie did not get good reviews, but recently it came out on video and Sally and I watched it this weekend. I loved the movie — I tend to think the critics were looking for a Will Smith high-action sci-fi thriller, so they were disappointed. I was looking for a deep discussion of fear, and I was elated.
I need to provide you a small background and promise to not ruin the movie. Imagine a future where humans leave Earth because everything has evolved to kill humans. One creature in particular is the deadliest of them all, and the only sense perception it has is the smell of humans’ fear. Essentially, if you exhibit fear, it can track you and kill you. When Will Smith’s son in the movie, son Jaden in real life, asks Will Smith what happened the day he learned to not fear the creature, after an explanation of the events, here is what he tells Jaden about fear:
“Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity. Do not misunderstand me, danger is very real, but fear is a choice. We are all telling ourselves a story and that day mine changed.”
So, in their world, fear or FEAR becomes a matter of life and death when confronted by the creature that smells fear. The creature leaves the remains of previous kills in the open so a human who sees it becomes afraid and then the creature can track that human by the smell of his fear. Fear becomes the choice of your life: If you choose fear, the creature smells your fear and kills you. If you choose faith (that by letting go of fear you learn there was nothing to be afraid of), then you become invisible to the creature and you live.
In our world, let’s call the creature Parkinson’s. The Parkinson’s can smell your fear. It gives you a bigger tremor, or a bit more stiffness, or some extra slowness or fatigue, and you experience fear, or FEAR. But it all is in your mind. You become fearful of becoming complete debilitated — this is fear of things that do not at present exist and may not ever exist. And then the Parkinson’s eats you alive. It is not a quick kill like in the movie. No, it is a slow kill filled with a lifetime of fear.
If you live and die by what your symptoms are doing, then you fall into lifetime of fear. It is a vicious cycle of FEAR. Although the false evidence appears real, it is only on your mind. You are telling yourself a story, and that story will kill you because it jumps from one fear to the next to the next. You forget to live because you are living and dying your Parkinson’s symptoms, completely forgetting to live your life.
And, the fear primarily comes from the current medical viewpoint of Parkinson’s, which does not include doing the Recipe. Can’t you see that the current medical viewpoint of Parkinson’s has created a creature in your mind, a creature you feel you must fear — progressively degenerative neurological disease of which they do not know the cause and for which they have no cure. If you stay in your mind and choose fear, their creature provides you a lifetime of misery toward a slow uncomfortable death.
There is a different choice. Be in you heart. Choose Faith.
Faith says that the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery® is a cure for Parkinson’s.
Faith says that you are your own cure.
Faith says that no matter what your symptoms look like, you have nothing to be afraid of if you are doing the Recipe.
Faith says, “Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity. Do not misunderstand me, danger is very real, but fear is a choice. We are all telling ourselves a story and that day mine changed.”
Faith says, “I have been afraid every time a symptom has changed where I have not liked the change. I realize now that if I am doing the Recipe, I am only getting better, never worse, no matter what my symptoms are doing. I am letting go of my fear of the future and living in the moment. I am refusing to tell myself a story of fear that I am getting worse. Today, my story changes! I am embracing the Recipe and knowing:
Parkinson’s is curable.
I am my own Parkinson’s cure.
I am halting, slowing, and reversing the progression of my Parkinson’s.
I am extraordinary.
I am recovery.”
AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
All my best,
Howard
Dear, dear Howard….
I visualize you as our cheering team leader, encouraging us all to sing with our fullest voice and heart, “I am Recovery!”
Yes, we do have a choice… the fear refrain to nowhere or the faith refrain to life…..maybe that would be better phrased “the faith train to life”…. think I’m going to climb on board….I hope many others will too…
My favorite movie of all time is FEARLESS — starring Jeff Bridges. I saw it in 1993, 17 years prior to my PD diagnosis (Jan, 2010). And now, almost four years later, I return to the brilliant luminescence of this movie and find my way back to the truth that surpasses all understanding — love is all there is.
Fearless 1993 Trailer – YouTube
► 2:00► 2:00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm5jBa4LzxQ
Dec 8, 2008 – Uploaded by peterweircave
Trailer for Peter Weir’s “Fearless”, starring Jeff Bridges, Rosie Perez, and Isabella Rossellini. Slightly …
Great reminders, Howard! As I do the recipe and symptoms continue to increase I am using the resulting fear to redouble my enthusiasm for the recipe and life, and to affirm my self-worth, rather than letting it beat me down. “Throw your best punch,” Mooji says to adversity, using it as a motivator.
I have Parkinson’s, but it doesn’t have me!…..I see nothing but hope on the horizon….I don’t understand it all, but I believe it all!….
thanx, again, howard…..you are a genius….gifted in the area of encouragement!….
Ditto, Judy!
This is so great (as ever). Now some symptoms are getting better: this works! And those that are worsening are a reminder to Wake Up, Be Aware, Be Still and listen. Where am I being sloppy? For me, it’s often in the ways I relate: far too “nice” and pleasing. Sitting still and letting the question Why answer itself, all sorts of insights slowly arise. Definitely uncomfortable, often painful, nearly always fear based.
So PD symptoms have pushed me to be bold and take risks and change old patterns. Talk to siblings about the “family unmentionables”. Say No where before I would have stayed silent, etc. etc. It’s been extraordinarily fulfilling–having been awfully terrifying to do–I felt I was risking jeopardising friends and family–and discovered it earned me unprecedented respect. And stiffness has eased and energy is returning.
Bless you Howard for bountiful and wise inspiration. With deep thanks, Jane
Great
jane
your comments about pleasing n being nice r so spot on
i hve recently moved close to my family n hve noticed an increase in my stiffness when i am placating them about being ok when im really not
after a life away from them its been a shock to realise how these things affect my body
at this point i dont really know what to do–move away again n save myself or hope to learn to be more present and real in all my interactions
your comments really made me determined to pay more attention to these aspects
of course howard is always a great counsellor and has written another great blog here on fear
thanks so much again howard
and thank you jane
Thank you , Jane, for this post. And congratulations for breaking out of old patterns!
Best wishes to you as you continue on in your recovery,
Marie
Thank you Howard great encouragement. I believe I will be cured recover. You have and I can and will. Thank you God
Howard,
Another great analogy on mind control. These lessons are extremely difficult to conquer but well worth the effort given the alternative! I can’t thank you enough for your constant support.
With much love and gratitude!
Melanie
Thanks Howard for a much needed nudge in the right direction. Always appreciated.
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Thank you to Howard and to this community for some very helpful insight. I went on vacation last week with my family. My symptoms increased as the week went on. Fear entered in. I began thinking that I would have to go back on meds. Something that Linda said made me realize that I had let fear take control.
“noticed an increase in my stiffness when i am placating them about being ok when im really not”
I realize that I do the same thing. I don’t want my family to be negative about the program that I’m on, so I lie to them about how I’m doing. Thank you Linda for bringing that to my attention.
I’m home and back on track. Doing the recipe and having faith in my recovery. Thanks to Howard and everyone for your encouraging comments.