Fear Less

Happy Friday the 13th! I’ve said that a few times today and it has generated some laughs and some discussion about superstitions. There are people who are genuinely afraid of the number 13. Triskaidekaphobia is the name for this irrational fear. How the number 13 became so fearful, I’m not entirely sure. But I have noticed that most tall buildings have a 12th floor and a 14th floor, but not a 13th. Hoteliers are afraid guests would refuse to stay on that floor, so rather than waste the space, they call it 14.

It is amazing how easily fear can take over our thoughts. Fear is a powerful emotion and, as newspapers, movies, themeparks, and TV have discovered, it sells!
Max Lucado in his book Fearless, cites a study by reporter Bob Garfield on the increasing focus on fear in broadcast and print media reporting. His findings were enlightening. Major publications over the brief period of his inquiry reporting on health issues said;
· 59 million Americans have heart disease,
· 53 million Americans have migraines,
· 25 million Americans have osteoporosis,
· 3 million have cancer,
· 2 million have severe brain disorders,
“Reportedly, in total, 543 million Americans consider themselves to be seriously sick, a troubling figure since there are 266 million people in the country. As Garfield noted, ‘Either as a society we are doomed, or someone is seriously double-dipping.” Fearless, p. 159.
In healthcare today, the environment has become so anxious that a reorganization of one health system can cause ripple effects of fear throughout an entire region. The anxiety bubbles up and our stomachs start to churn. We are not alone. The feeling is pervasive, it seems. Fear. It is a highly contagious bug. To defeat it, we need a strong immune system. What follows is and extra shot of B12 and a high dose bolus of vitamin C.

“There’s a stampede of fear out there. Let’s not get caught in it. Let’s be among those who stay calm. Let’s recognize danger but not be overwhelmed. Acknowledge threats but refuse to be defined by them. Let others breathe the polluted air of anxiety, not us. Let’s be numbered among those who hear a different voice, God’s. Enough of these shouts of despair, wails of doom. Why pay heed to the doomsdayer on Wall Street or the purveyor of gloom in the newspaper? We will incline our ears elsewhere; upward. We will turn to our Maker, and because we do, we will fear less.” Fearless, p. 159.

I’m taking my dose now. Want to join me?
Blessings to you all!
Jerald