Fear and negativity are the King and Queen of America at present. There are numerous reasons for this, both real and imagined.

There are so many fears, in fact, that it is pointless to deal with them individually. One must deal with fear itself. One must gain a perspective which raises one above fear. Otherwise one will use all of his energy and time dealing with fears one at a time.

All fears may be included in several general fears. There is fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of death and fear of diminishment and indignity.

If one can look at those fears from a high enough perspective–one which includes courage, aspiration, decisiveness and self-denial–one will become fearless. As soon as one strives into the unknown bereft of the burden of an ephemeral self, fear is replaced by joy.

Of course, fear has two ugly sisters: doubt and self-pity. Women seem more prone to doubt, and men to self-pity, but both are suggestibly seduced by the siren of fear.

It is wiser to deal with your response-attitude than it is to deal with an outer provocation. One must be responsive, but not excitable. Responsive, but not reactive. Responsive, but not negatively emotional. Trust in the beneficence of the universe also helps.

– Raphael O’Suna, Haiku