Chapter 2.IX – The Correction of Fear
February 26, 2021
“Only your mind can produce fear. It does so whenever it is conflicted in what it wills, thus producing inevitable strain because willing and doing become discordant.” (10:3-4) If this is true then it is within the mind that we can find the correction of fear. In this section we revisit the levels, and our tendency to mix them up.
We need to be clear about what our responsibility or self-control is, as well as what comes under Christ-control and Christ-guidance. Jesus tells us that “Christ-control can take over everything that does not matter. Christ-guidance can direct everything that does, (matter) if you so will.” (1:3)
When we look at this according to the order of levels, what matters? “The mind level…” (2:7) What does not matter? “You believe you are responsible for what you do…” (3:4) Therefore what matters is what is at the mind level—our thoughts, and what does not matter is what we do—our behaviour. We can see then that Christ-control can be used to control our behaviour IF we have allowed our minds to be under Christ-guidance or influence. This influence helps us take responsibility for our thoughts (self-control).
When we raise the unimportant, the behavioural level, to the mind level in importance we have miscreated and have accepted the fallacy that “you are responsible for what you do but not what you think. (3:4) We need to understand and accept that “the truth is that you are responsible for what you think, because it is only at this level that you can exercise choice.” (3:5) When we seek guidance from Jesus, he will help us correct our misthoughts and regain the correct understanding of the levels. When we do that behaviour is automatically controlled by him.
The sign of our miscreation is fear. Fear blocks Christ-control because we have given our behaviour the importance of mind level and “have brought it (behaviour) under your will, where it does not belong.” (2:4) Now we have taken the responsibility for behaviour instead of leaving it under Christ-control.
Because our thoughts come under our self-control, we are responsible for the correction. Usually we feel fearful and immediately try to correct our behaviour. This is where we are making the error. First by elevating the behaviour to a level of importance it does not have and then by taking responsibility for controlling it. Remember behaviour should be under Christ-control. In taking control we might do what we think we should and also what we want “either simultaneously or successively.” (6:3) This may be seen in a televangelist preaching weekly and also keeping a mistress. This causes behavioural conflict and there is always a part of the will that is enraged by not getting what it wants. Or we can choose to behave only as we think we should, which is consistent but causes great strain.
Can you see how this kind of solution maintains the split will? This remedy for our “behaviour-will conflict” (11:2) is just treating the symptoms. What we need is “the kind of habit pattern which you have not developed dependably as yet.” (8:4) This pattern needs to help us bring our will under Jesus guidance “without much conscious effort…” (8:4)
Once again Jesus is teaching us to understand our fear differently. “The first corrective step is knowing it is fear.” (11:1) We have been given many ways to recognize fear in this section. It may come as feelings of rage, anger, anxiety, depression, strain. These feelings tell us that our mind is miscreating, has willed wrongly, we have mixed up levels and have taken responsibility for what we are not responsible for, therefore, our will is split. We want to remember that fear is associated with what does not matter, it is unimportant, it is voluntary, and the correction for this behaviour-will split is a matter of our will.
The habit pattern we want to develop is:
1. Know first this is fear.
2. (tell yourself) Fear arises from lack of love.
3. (remember) The only remedy for lack of love is perfect love.
4. Perfect love is the Atonement.
As in the last section Jesus is offering to help us with our not-right-mindedness with his consistent right-mindedness. The habit pattern we develop involves the identification of our fear, using it to alert us to our split will and then remind ourselves of our goal of accepting our “true identification.” (15:1) “Reliance has to be placed on (Jesus), which is sufficient once you (rely on him) without distantiation or division in loyalties.” (15:3) Our continual “affirmation of the goal you want to achieve” (15:4) strengthens the habit. This is the way “you will perceive and know your true worth and the importance of maintaining a complete identification.” (15:5)
Exercise:
Write down the prayer to Jesus on page 91 and carry it with you today. At least once try to use it when you have identified fear in some situation in order to enable your will to come into accord with his. Think about the power of having Jesus’ perfect love join you in supporting your imperfect love, which was the source of your fear. This is the remedy for lack of love. Try to appreciate that even though you do not realize your true identification and the fact that you are perfect love, Jesus understands enough for both of you.
After you are done ask Jesus if your will is in accord with his. “If you are sure that it is, there will be no fear.” Now ask him what his will is for you to do in this situation that has alerted you to the need for Atonement.
Practice Suggestion:
My fear is a sign of my behaviour-will conflict and nothing more. I will accept the Atonement now.