Fear: a scary tool

Several years ago, I went to some Sales and Business Opportunity Seminars. For the most part, they were free, except for time, parking and an expensive lunch in or near the hotel. I heard many things at these seminars, but one of the few things I heard several times that stuck with me was the use of the word FEAR as an acronym for False Education Appearing Real.

I was reading an article awhile back that really brought this to mind. The article claimed that human children are born with only two natural fears, falling and sudden loud noises.

January was a very tough month for me as I spent it becoming intimately acquainted with my fears on several levels. As difficult as it was, I really learned a lot from it.

The specifics of the situation are not really that important, but I will tell you that there are very few things that can put me into a state of near panic and paralysis like where this was centered. I had been put in a place where not only was this hot-button issue directly affected, but I also ended up with so many options and no clue as to which my best choice was. After nearly two weeks of floating from choice to choice, getting nowhere and driving myself nearly crazy, I had what Oprah would call an “ah-ha” moment.

My problem was not the choice, the plethora of available options, or even the assorted financial considerations, but simply that I needed to make a choice, just that.

Often we avoid making decisions for ourselves because what if we are wrong? If we can get a friend or friends to make the choice for us, they are the ones that may be wrong and “I” now have someone “I” can hold responsible.

Have you noticed the number of times
that I have used the word choice yet?

The “False Education” in this particular situation was that there was a “right” or “wrong” choice to be made. It was just a choice, nothing more and once I became aware of this and resolved to make “a choice” I began to have a space to have peace in.

Simply put, the choice was mine to make, did I make the “right” choice? That remains to be seen and judged later by someone else. After taking another look at my options I made my choice, would you make the same choice? Maybe, maybe not, does it matter?

If we take the time to look at fear, we will almost always find that the source is some misconception of the situation we want to avoid addressing and the rest of the time we are just attempting to avoid the responsibility that will come from our, or often our friends and family, judgment of our choice in comparison to what they would have done in the situation.

If we look at fear in this way, then fear becomes yet another tool in our arsenal of growth and personal advancement no matter how scary it may seem at the time.

If you have content you would like to pass along or to submit your own content, a question or comment on this newsletter, please send it to: editorial@spiritgeek.com or go to the online version of the Zeitgeist Newsletter.

Calendar & Announcements

Meetup Group Closing	Feb 18, 2011
The Meetup Group “Where Life and Spirit become One” is being discontinued as of February 18, 2011. It was an interesting idea that never really got off the ground so I have decided to terminate it. To all the friends and family of the group, please keep in touch at either the Spiritgeek website, Facebook or Twitter. I hope to see and hear from you all soon.

2011: A New Year and Mission

First off, welcome to 2011 with all the joy and hopes of your heart! May the New Year bring Peace and Happiness to you and yours! May your life always show you blessings on your path home to Source.

I have been doing a lot of thinking as of late, yeah, better late than never. LOL

I have recently decided to close the Life-Coaching aspect of Spiritgeek, at least as the central object of its operation, I was feeling a bit mercenary about it. I love doing the coaching, but Spiritgeek was never really about making a living for myself but as an outlet for an awakening of Spirit for those it touches.

While I thought about this in general, trying to figure out why I was so unmotivated in the business aspects of the practice I was putting together, I started thinking of a scene from the TV film “Jesus” with Jeremy Sisto, Gary Oldman, Debrah Messing and my fave actress Jacqueline Bisset.

The scene is the films interpretation of when the Canaanite woman came begging Jesus for his assistance with her daughter that was being tormented by a demon. One disciple says, “Send the Canaanite away, she has no place here.” She continues pleading for Jesus to show mercy on her daughter.

	JESUS You’re not a Jew. I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. CANAANITE WOMAN (runs and throws herself at Jesus’ feet) Jesus, have mercy Lord! Please! Please! JESUS It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs. CANAANITE WOMAN Yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.
As he has a moment of recollection and awakening he raises the Canaanite Woman to her feet:
	JESUS Woman, great is your faith. Your daughter is healed. Go and find her. CANAANITE WOMAN Bless you Jesus! DISCIPLE Master, our God is for the Gentiles? JESUS I saw a dying girl.
Disciples pause in disapproval
	Would you rather I let her die?
Disciples shy away from responding
	This woman has taught me that my message is for the Gentiles as well. If I can learn, so can you.

I felt so like this. I had pretty much convinced myself that I knew what direction I wanted to take things. The Universe would let me of course; it is not the Universe’s job to make those decisions for me, but to fulfill what I place before it. Remember that old expression; “Be careful what you ask for, you might get it.”

I have never been comfortable in the position of trading Spirit for cash. I understand that there is a need with many people to pay money. It took me a long time to realize people do not often appreciate what they get for free, I could give many people the best Coaching as a gift and they would do nothing with it, but if I charge them, they will be nearly unable to wait to put the Coaching into practice.

So 2011 is going to start off with some transitions here at Spiritgeek.com and in my life. I want to return to what I originally saw the site and practice as, about fulfilling the original tagline of the site.

…where Life and Spirit become One!

Life Coaching will still be available for those who want it, it will just not be the primary goal of either the website or Robert Burgener.

I want to hear from you, my readers and the people that my readers care enough to forward this newsletter to. What do you want, what would make reaching the goal of our tagline a reality in your life?

I look forward to hearing from you.

If you have content you would like to pass along or to submit your own content, a question or comment on this newsletter, please send it to: editorial@spiritgeek.com or go to the online version of the Zeitgeist Newsletter.