Overcoming Fears and Resistance to Change

Spirituality in Practice – Example 1

Kishore C.S. (June 2001)

It is said Spiritual Practice is like a journey on edge of sword. Following simple instructions of Lord takes tremendous effort from ordinary mortals like us. Only continuous struggle with these principles and continuous prayers to Lord for HIS GRACE can help. Grace of Lord cannot be obtained overnight and we need to strengthen our character and be prepared for the same.
 
The following is one of my personal experiences where I learned how to practice detachment with more faith in God. 
 
Resistance:
 
We tend to resist change because change means stress. In an effort avoid possible stress, we resist change. I also avoid taking undue stress. 
 
After coming to US, I had to move to an apartment where I have to pay high rent. 50% of my salary goes to the rent. After couple of months there were lot of apartments that are available at lower rates. However, I resisted my wife’s suggestions to move out. I wanted to avoid the undue stress of following 
- Effort needed to transfer household articles
- Effort needed to apply for “Change of Address” for everything starting from electricity supply, phone service etc.  
I also had imaginary fears that if I am not able to make a smooth transition I will come under more stress. 
 
Faith in God
 
One day I went to library and loaned a book of ‘Discourses’ of Avatar Meher Baba. I was going through the book and one of the 7 principles pointed “Surrender to God” is complete when a person can take any amount of diversity as ‘His Will’. It made me think that I have been avoiding “Change of Apartment” because I feel I am doing everything. In thinking so my surrender to Lord’s will is not complete. I am spiritually weak and I cannot succeed unless I can improve my surrender. During my conversations with My Guruji, he also stated many times: “as long as you think you are doing you undergo suffering”. Once you surrender and take every small event in life as God’s grace, you will lead a better life. Being away from Guruji, I felt the book in my hands as an indirect reminder by Guruji to accept God’s Will.  

Change of Heart
 
Awareness of this mistake on my part made me take a decision that I will make the change – come what may. I know it is will of God that the change should happen and HE will guide me in a smooth transition. Each experience Lord provides has a meaning and one should learn from him everyday.  
With this decision I went to Rental office. Within an hour we made a decision. I was ‘worried’ about the big decision I took at such a short notice. But I believed behind my decision, was Power of God and it is with complete trust in my Guruji and God that I took my decision.  
Reflection:
 
Couple of months after this experience, I am glad that I took a step as described above. Not only changing apartment was smooth with timely help from my friend, but the whole transition was smooth with little problems and it also made me comfortable in many other ways. I realized HE knows better what we need. By resisting what needs to happen we undergo more stress than accepting HIS will and let things happen. 
 
As I recollect my experience, I realize that 
- We tend to over imagine and develop fears
- Complete faith in God is the best way to overcome fears
- God takes care of everyone  
- My faith in God has strengthened through action 
- I am likely to take up more such acts of faith with this experience standing as a proof of God’s Grace.  
Summary
 
Faith in God can change one’s life and miracles will happen when the faith is complete.  
Read this good article Conquest of Fear to know more about overcoming fears. You can also download PDF format of this article and read at your convenience. This article I read sometime back also helped me.