An often-heard comment in recent months is “I don’t feel safe.” Actual physical and emotional safety relates to a person’s perceptions and has little to do with objective reality. Our leaders intentionally foment fear as a way of controlling debate and manipulating conversation. We are told that crime is out of control and that immigrants are flooding our community. We are told that our nation’s best days are behind and that only through mistrusting those who are different can we regain our strength. Not so!
Fear is not rational. It comes from the depths of the mammalian brain. It says to us, “There is something in the dark! Run! Fear makes us feel isolated. It triggers our fight or flight reflexes. This emotion shuts down our higher brain functions, preparing us to meet immediate physical challenges.
Unchallenged fear can transform into anxiety, nervousness and depression. We experience dread that cannot be tied to any specific threat. It tells us we are powerless to effect change. It causes us to isolate in our homes, doom scrolling our devices, seeking illusions of salvation. This is what those who are currently in power want, fearful people, isolated and alone.
So how do we fight this condition?
First: adopt an attitude of intentional kindness toward yourself. Acknowledge that you are experiencing fear. Say to yourself that there may be creatures in dark places, but they are not right here, right now. Worrying about what might happen in the future takes away the opportunity to positively impact the present. Put down the screen, walk into the beauty of a sunny fall afternoon. Smell the bittersweet odor of the falling leaves. Listen to the sounds of geese flying overhead. Engage in what psychologists call self-kindness. This involves treating yourself as though you were your best friend. Chocolate helps, too!
Second: connect with someone. Humans are big-brained apes. We need the sounds, smells, and touches of our fellows. East Idaho is blessed with a wealth of opportunities for connection and service. Meeting the need of another is demonstrated to improve self-concept and social power. Connecting with others increases a sense of safety, reduces fear, and enhances happiness. The goal here is to share a sense of common humanity. What we feel is not unique. Joy, despair, fear and safety are universal human experiences. We are not alone in their expression.
Third: live now. Focus attention on what is happening at this moment. What am I experiencing? The challenge is to focus our entire being on the task of the moment. I tell myself not to shelter in the past or worry about the future. I choose to be fully alive and present. This is where one finds courage to act.
We must face fear with courage. When we are kind to ourselves, engage with others, and live in the present, we make change possible. Fight the fear. Speak your truth. Act to create safety.
Todd DeVries is a local mental health professional and the state committeeman for the Bonneville County Democratic Central Committee.