"How do you use Survivor Personality skills to be vigilant without worrying, and be alert to potential danger without fear?"
Trust in God
by Linda Wollam
I have always trusted my intuition. When I was a very small child, about 5 years old, I knew to keep away from an older boy who was trying to get close to me. When he blocked my way out of the dining room, I ducked under the dining pedestal table and kept crawling around, keeping away from him and refusing to come out, ignoring his unrelenting coaxing for me to come out from under there. Finally, my aunt, who was caring for me, came back into the room to see what I was doing. I then darted out from under the table and stayed away from that boy until he left with his mother. I remember feeling the need to keep away from him; rather unusual for me because I was a naturally friendly child who was accustomed to playing with older boys (my brothers and their friends), but this boy of about 12 years of age did not seem like them.
A few years later, I learned that this boy was arrested for molesting little girls in his neighborhood. This information, though coming years later when I was old enough to understand, substantiated the validity of my intuitive skills. I have learned time and time again to trust my gut.
At the same time, I do trust that things will work out the way they should if I believe that the world is basically a wonderful place, that life is very much worth living and that we should look for the joy in the moment. I am a member of ECKANKAR, Religion of the Light and Sound of God. There is a saying that goes like this: "Tie up your camel first and then trust in God." In other words, look after yourself, but trust as well.
Another thing I have learned is that bad things do happen and to good people. I think that I am a good person for the most part. I am no different from anyone else either--not significantly so, anyway. So I can expect that bad things will come my way. What I need to have is the courage to deal with things as they come. Enjoy the wonderful moments, but be able to accept the not so good and be able to handle whatever crisis might be on the horizon. I have a lot of confidence in my abilities to cope. Also, I am not afraid to let go of things when I must surrender--accept when everything else fails. I will not win every battle that I face, but I will salvage as much as I can from the experience and learn--be better prepared for the next time.
A cashier at my local grocery told me that she was not afraid and would not change anything in her life. She told me that I should not be afraid--well, responding to fear by being cautious is a very good thing. Fear triggers survivor skills--if we do not acknowledge our fears, we will never learn how to deal with dangerous situations. What good is there in trusting in God, if we do not tie up our camel first? The cashier said that when your time comes there is nothing you can do about it--just trust in the Lord's plans for each of us. Well, I for one would not sit down in the middle of the road and wait for a truck to run over me--I don't think that is in God's plans for me. I would not expect that God would be in the position to stop that truck if he had other plans for me--I have to do my part in taking care of myself. I trust that God is beside me and that He loves me, but I have to take responsibility of the way I live. Danger signals are warnings that necessitate change. So the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, is our wake up call.
My husband and I are changing some of the things that we do on a regular basis. Right now, we will not fly on airplanes so long distance traveling is out unless we decide to drive. The President and other leaders are encouraging us to get back on the airplanes, but we are not convinced that the security at airports is better, that the necessary improvements are in place. We will not be led by words. The information to the public on the Anthrax cases is also another example of our need to be cautious. I do not trust that we are being told everything we need to know--under the guise of national security. I have gone to several news sources and have found many different reports--many contradictory. It is confusing, to say the least--so again, I feel caution and intuition will be my guide.
Well, these are a few of my thoughts. Hope it will be helpful to you. Basically, I am going about my daily business but keeping alert to my surroundings and what is going on in the big world. I am fortunate during these difficult times to be with my Soulmate--we give so much strength and happiness to one another.
May the Blessings Be,
Lindaemail: LWOLLAM9@aol.com