A MONSTER TO HUG IN LIFE

Delicious food for lunch - “There are three types of friends: those like food, without which you can't live; those like medicine, which you need occasionally; and those like an illness, which you never want.”

One couple spent a holiday driving in the mountains. "Every time you
race around one of those narrow curves," exclaimed the wife, "I just
get terrified."

"Then do what I do," suggested her husband. "Close your eyes!"

We are all afraid at times, but closing our eyes may not be the best
way through fear. I've found it better to open my eyes and try to
experience those fears.

You've heard of facing your fears; how about embracing them?

I think one man's experience with fear can help.

In 1972 David Miln Smith had such an opportunity. Smith, an
adventurer, author and professional speaker, decided to spend a night
alone in the famous St. Michael's Cave on the island of Gibraltar as
a test of courage. In his book HUG THAT MONSTER (Andrews and McMeel,
1996), he tells of hearing strange sounds all around him as he lay
there in the pitch-black, damp, deserted cave. Most frightening was
the fact that he came to believe he was not alone!

Fear became panic and he was afraid he was losing his mind. Then
suddenly, as he was approaching his psychological breaking point,
Smith thought to himself, "Whatever the monster looks like, I will
hug it." That simple, almost silly thought brought great relief to
his restless mind. He soon fell into a deep and peaceful sleep until
morning. He learned that embracing his fear, literally or
figuratively, allowed him to subdue it.

We each have our nights of fear, don't we? We all encounter monsters
of some sort. We may fear spiders or insects, heights or crowds,
abandonment or loneliness, the future or death. And most of us are
occasionally visited by shadows of these monsters in the dark of
night.

The next time you're afraid, try "hugging the monster." Face it and
embrace it. It's hard to feel afraid of something you're hugging! And
you just might be surprised at how quickly it slips away and at how
confident you begin to feel.

That beautiful spirit Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You gain strength,
courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look
fear in the face." But after looking it in the face, how about
embracing it? Just imagine yourself putting your arms around whatever
is keeping you awake in the night. Make it your friend. because it
is! Whatever you fear, once faced and embraced, will actually make
you a better person.

Now. do you have a monster to hug?

From Lifesupport.

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