Love or Fear: Which Do You Choose to Live In?

Let me start off with these are really only two emotions. All the other emotions come from either love or fear. This is supported by the work of psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. She also notes that it is impossible for us to feel these polar opposite emotions at the same time.

Emotions are messages for us, but we get to choose how long we are going to allow ourselves to sit in those emotions. We get to choose when and how we shift between love and fear.

We should absolutely allow ourselves to feel all of the feelings. Experience them. Learn the messages they have to tell us. Then choose where you want to live.

Let me start by talking about fear. Fear is very useful and has kept us alive since the beginning of time. It helps protect us. But for the most part we no longer have to live life where something is waiting to kill us around every corner, so we do not have to live in a fear-based mindset.

Those fear-based mindsets are based on ego, insecurities, and scarcity.

Fear based emotions: Grief, depression, remorse, regret, despair, gloom, hopelessness, disappointment, suffering, insecurity, doubt, apathy, hatred, contempt, scorn, indifference, disdain, disrespect, disgust, hostility, animosity, loathing, resentment, uncertainty, wariness, dread, distress, apprehension, worry, uneasiness, stress, shame, dishonesty, embarrassment, envy, jealousy, guilt, humiliation, abandonment, isolation, loneliness, alienation, neglect, desertion, horror, terror, hysteria, shock, panic, alarm, fright, disbelief, anger, rage, fury, frustration, competitiveness, bitterness, aggravation, and aggression.

Now lets look briefly at a mindset of love.

Where fear helps us just survive. Love helps us to thrive. It helps us grow and be prosperous. Decisions made with a love mindset come from a place of acceptance and kindness. They are based in view of abundance for everyone.

Love based emotions: Happiness, joy, delight, ecstasy, euphoria, pleasure, bliss, empathy, compassion, pity, sympathy, kindness, affection, certainty, excitement, relaxation, tranquility, equanimity, faith, self-control, inner fortitude, honor, honesty, confidence, resolve, respect, trust, humility, forgiveness, belonging, togetherness, support, helpfulness, caring, connection, contribution, dependability, wonder, surprise, amazement, astonishment, awe, acceptance, relief, comfort, non-judgement, cooperation, contentment, and peace of mind.

You will note that each emotion on these lists have a counterpart on the opposing list. Therefore, when an situation comes up and we feel ourselves having one of these emotions we can choose to change our perspective and thus choosing an emotion from the other list.

Fear is something we all need. It helps us grow by understanding risks and how it feels to be uncomfortable. We need to feel that discomfort to know how good it feels on the other side. But the growth happens when we shift back to the mindset of love. When we stay in that mindset of fear, we do not allow the growth to happen from the lessons fear showed us.

We switch back and forth between the mindsets of fear and love by taking control of our emotions, rather than letting our emotions control us. In this way we truly get to decide and create our own happiness.

When we can get past fear and move in the mindset of love we can get out of our own way and make our dreams come true. What would you do if you didn’t fear failure, or how you would pay for things, or that you might look like a fool?