Choosing
Peace
in the Face of Terrorism
 By Dr. Fern Kazlow
After the terror attacks of 9/11, Mike suffered from severe anxiety.
He lost a friend in the terrorist attacks and saw havoc created in
his friend’s
family. Despite good diet and exercise, stress has kept Mike from sleeping
and contributed to high blood pressure. Mike was driving his family nuts,
as he tried to “make sure they are safe” — including
keeping them from going to Manhattan unless absolutely necessary.
Janice, a generally optimistic, easy-going person, has been experiencing
mild anxiety and depression lately. She just hasn’t been herself
with no conscious explanation. Yet, when asked if she was concerned
about the terrorist threat, spoke of her fears of harm to herself and
loved
ones, as well as fear of financial consequences.
Others, such as Lois, are experiencing no noticeable effects of terrorism
or its related energy patterns — the “energetic” — around
us. Yet we are all affected to different degrees, whether we know it
or not.
Terrorism fears can often be related to a feeling of powerlessness
over situations that we perceive are beyond our control. While we may
not
be able to directly control whether or not terrorists attack, we can
gain
more control over our own responses. This impacts our sense of well-being
and influences our safety in the event of an attack. We may react more
quickly and effectively when in danger, pay better attention to our
own intuition, and be the attracter of positive rather than disturbing
experiences — the
one who is in the right place at the right time.
Further, our own state of peace or frenzy will contribute to that state
in others — our friends, family, students, clients — near and
not so near to us. We are all connected, and how we respond affects not
only us but others as well. In fact, our own perspective, and how we handle
our own energetic state, may actually impact the terrorists themselves.
As David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. explains, every individual that raises
their consciousness affects the consciousness of all mankind, “every
loving or compassionate thought outweighs many thousands of negative
thoughts held by others.”
So we are told we should be peaceful, choose happiness, do the right
thing, etc. The question is: how do we achieve these states, how do
we do it? “Doing
it” requires some understanding of how fear operates in our psyche
and tools to help us deal with it. I am talking about not only a way
of dealing with terrorism, which triggers our most basic survival reactions,
but all fear. So long as we attribute our happiness to external factors,
we will be vulnerable and much of our activities will be unconscious
attempts
to avoid fear.
And since fear — conscious or not — is so pervasive in life, I am
suggesting a way of relating to and living life itself. This is not an approach
that supports pushing away fear, going into denial or feigning optimism. Rather,
it encourages you to face your fears, and the thoughts and feelings that come
with them. In the case of terrorism, acknowledge what could happen and prepare
accordingly. No you needn’t build a bomb shelter, but perhaps storing some
extra water, canned supplies, family strategies for meeting, extra cash in the
house and charged cell phones will make you feel as though you have some measure
of control over the situation. At the same time, don't put a lot of attention
on the "horrific things" that can happen.
Easier said than done — the very act of trying "not to think about
monkeys" brings the thought front and center, and can make you a magnet
for the very things you don't want in your life. Instead, put your attention
on what you want to attract. BE the peace and good that you desire to see reflected
back in your life. Quantum science is proving that what is within is reflected
without — our emotional states are reflected in the world around us.
Make a conscious decision to feel in your body the way you would if the world
were
at peace. Don't pretend we are at peace, but decide to embody that feeling.
You can't know exactly how you would feel if the world was filled with peace,
but
you can take on the feeling you think you would experience.
You might find it easier to do this if you first focus on your midline — the
vertical going through the center of your body. You can do this by thinking,
visualizing or sensing the vertical line going through the center of you
body. It is also helpful to do a simple breathing technique where you take
a deep
breath, bringing energy up your spine to your crown chakra. Once you are
feeling grounded
and centered, bring in those feelings of goodness and peace.
Mike utilized these principles and learned to confront his fears. He considered
what could happen to his family if he were killed in an attack, how would
he and his wife survive if something happened to their children. He dealt
with
these concerns practically and energetically — which included his mental, emotional,
and spiritual processes. Mike got his finances in place to take care of his family.
He also learned how to handle his stress and anxiety. When distressed, he focused
on his midline and brought his energy solidly into his body. Mike began to make
more conscious choices about how he wanted to live his life. Instead of modeling
denial or succumbing to fear, he helped his children learn to handle their feelings
and deal directly with their problems. He encouraged them to “confront
things as best as you can, take appropriate action, and as much as possible come
from the place you want to live in — peace, happiness and abundance.
Go for the life you want, no matter what the external world appears to be
presenting.”
Understanding what is underneath our concerns and feelings often helps us
deal with our fears. Janice was finding it hard to shake her feelings of
anxiety
and depression. However, when she became aware that her concerns about terrorism
were triggering earlier fears, she was able to shift the energy patterns
she was stuck in. Janice became “her old self.” Praying also helped Janice
feel more empowered. She prayed by herself and as part of a group of individuals
throughout the world that prayed for peace at set times. Janice used a form of
prayer that encompassed quantum principles and spirituality. She prayed for peace
from a place of peace, invoking the feeling that peace already exists. She thanked
God for giving her the option to choose peace. As research is making apparent,
more than one possible outcome exists in any situation — including the
terrorist situation confronting us today — and how each of us responds
makes a difference. Gregg Braden, researching science and spirituality, finds
that studies in Jerusalem and other large cities show the first effects of
prayer or meditation may be seen when the number of people participating
was greater
than the square root of one percent of the population. That is only one hundred
people in a population of one million!
The more of us that choose to pray, meditate, or shift our energy field,
the better the chance to affect the outcome. Research shows that the more
of us
that focus on peace the greater the chance that it will manifest in the world.
Working
with our fears, we become empowered — we can actually make a difference.
Whatever happens in the world, each of us has the choice of inner peace,
and the gift of knowing that we did something to make a difference.
Dr. Fern Kazlow, Ed.D., is CEO of Kazlow International LLC. A licensed clinical psychotherapist, educator, author, and pioneer in mind-body healing, Dr. Kazlow founded Integrative Therapy and Integrative Action™ in New York City in 1981. She has expanded this work in the Kazlow Method™, providing a pathway to increase your authentic wealth and power in every area of your life.
Dr. Kazlow has served as mentor and consultant to health professionals, entrepreneurs, Wall Street executives, and business professionals. She created the Rapid Wealth System™ to increase your income and expand the riches throughout your life. The Predictable Jackpot™: Secrets of the Rapid Wealth System™ is the first part of her home study program.
For more information visit www.drfernkazlow.com or email Dr. Kazlow. For new articles, check back often.
Trademark & ©2004 Integrative Action
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