fear – Human Values Institute

Return home to the present moment

We have been beating ourselves up with anxiety and fear during this pandemic. It is time to center. It is time to balance. It is time to return home. Return home to the present moment. […]

Uncertainty easily turns into fear

Uncertainty easily turns into fear. Fear can be specific, or generalized, stirring up old emotions. Either way, fear makes us feel anxious, angry, and depressed. There is so much collective fear these days, even though […]

What about self-compassion?

What about self-compassion? In our modern stressful world filled with anxieties and fears, insecurity often tags along. Sometimes insecurity fuels anxiety and fear. Sometimes anxiety and fear fuels insecurity. Self-compassion becomes very important. If we […]

When we get stuck in a rut

Occasionally we fall into a funk. We get stuck in a rut and can’t seem to get ourselves out. Has this ever happened to you? It happened to me recently. I noticed some underlying fear, […]

The first beneficiary of compassion is always oneself

The first beneficiary of compassion is always oneself. When compassion, or warm-heartedness, arises in us and our focus shifts away from our own narrow self-interest; it is as if we open an inner door. An […]

We all want to be well

In our everyday life we have the strong habit to notice and judge others based on differences. It may be gender, age, skin color, ethnicity, country of origin, language and accent, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, […]

Forgiveness and gratitude

The more we forgive the more we feel grateful. The more we feel grateful the more we forgive. These two — forgiveness and gratitude — are mutually supportive. They set the tone for the day […]

How can we manage our anger and fear?

Often at the root of anger is fear. Gandhi thought this to be true, that fear is our worst enemy. They often go together – fear, uncertainty, doubt, discomfort, irritation, and then anger. How can […]

Think about others

When you are happy think about others. When you are sad think about others. This makes our life meaningful. The more we dwell on our own narcissistic stuff the more we inflame our own negative […]

When we can’t decide what to do

Sometimes we can’t decide what to do. The more we try the more paralysis sets in. We feel insecure and start to doubt ourselves. Insecurity makes it even harder to come to a decision. Anxiety […]