To fear something is to believe in it. If you do not believe in something, it cannot make you afraid. That is why religions suggest that we fear God, not because God is scary or that we should be afraid that God would hurt us, but because to fear something, you must believe in it. Fear is belief with uncertainty. It invokes an active physiological state in preparation for responding. In everyday life, we experience fear as a physical phenomenon in our bodies, referred to as the “fear response”, the “fight-or-flight response”, or the “stress-response”. Whatever the label for this experience, it is activated by our brain affecting our bodies for the purpose of some potential action, heightening our alertness and awareness. It is this greater consciousness of and indeed gratitude for being that we experience in our fear. It is ultimately belief in ourselves that provides us with fear. We believe that we exist. To fear God is to believe in God. To fear dying or danger is to believe in existing. That is the gift of fear.
Deborah Norris, Ph.D.
In 1996, Debbie was diagnosed with severe fibromyalgia, which left her in chronic pain; doctors said there was no cure and nothing could be done. Debbie, a research scientist, began researching the underlying causes of her condition and took up practices to reverse these causes. Debbie began doing things to gradually increase her physical, mental and emotional well-being, including gentle yoga for the physical pain, nutritional changes to increase her energy and meditation to relieve stress. By incorporating these practices, Debbie reversed her condition and returned to an active, healthy life. After an accident in 1999, Debbie suffered a traumatic brain injury and was diagnosed with seizures, impaired vision and chronic headaches. Once again, Debbie researched ways to heal herself using mind and body practices, and once again, Debbie was able to heal herself and live a healthy life free of seizures and pain. In her practice, Dr. Norris draws on both her scientific research and ancient wisdom to integrate lifestyle elements of meditation, physical exercise, spiritual development, relaxation therapy, nutrition and herbs for maximal health and happiness!