Meditation: How to Transform Fear to Trust & Joy

During this time in which our daily lives have changed, everyone at one time or another has had to face fear. Not only may we be feeling fear and anxiety from specific personal changes in our individual lives such as not being able to work, getting sick, or not being able to protect our loved ones, but we may be also feeling the pain and suffering of the world.

From meditating for over 44 years, I am reminded that the way through stressful times is meditation and going within. In meditation, I have learned to transform the fear and anxiety to find love, trust, joy and prayer for myself, others in my community and the world.

I have found meditation is a key element in wellness. I have regularly practiced meditation in various forms, including Yoga, Vipassana, Zazen, Dynamic, Kundalini, movement, and dance. Meditation has been a central theme in my life, for my own wellbeing, my connection to the Divine and a source of inspiration for all parts of my life.

Meditation is helpful for our wellness, on a physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social and really on a practical level, to the point where I use meditation for material aspects of my life, for example, to help me figure out how to use my time at home productively and how to care for my health the best way possible. Please read on if you want to learn more about a mediation practice that can help you with your whole life.

Currently, and for the last 27 years, I practice a very practical meditation that incorporates all aspects of our life including having intentions and desire, emotional release, prayer, calming, thinking, and taking action. I practice this type of meditation, daily for 30 minutes, sometimes longer, and sometimes even do a 1–10-day meditation retreat.

Here is an article written by one of my meditation teachers and cofounder of Heart of the Matter Transformation, Piper Makepeace, about the current meditation I practice.

— Dr. Sophia Renée Rodrigues, Chiropractor

What Can Meditation Do for You?

In the last few weeks, I have talked with many people who are experiencing a wide variety of emotions and reactions to the current world situation. Some are feeling intense emotions like anger, panic, frustration. Others are confused, in shock, or trying to keep it all together. No matter what our personal circumstance, most everyone is having to navigate life in a new way.

In this article, I will give you a brief description of how this meditation practice works and how you can use it in your life.

Throughout the last 27 years of practicing the four parts of the Heart of the Matter meditation, I have learned that I am able to handle anything that life throws at me, even today’s current circumstances.

You begin this meditation by setting an intention or desire for yourself.

There are four parts to the meditation:

Opening the emotional body allows you to connect to a deeper part of yourself. We use a variety of different moods of music to help you to feel, release and open up whatever is going on inside of you — fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, helplessness, etc. When emotional blocks are uncovered and let go of, more love can be felt, which allows you to feel more freedom to be fully present.

Calming is the next part of the meditation. It is easier to calm once you have taken the time to release emotions. This part of the meditation allows the mind, senses, emotions and body to calm. Thoughts may still be there. Let them pass through as you practice calming.

Meditative thinking, the next part of the meditation, is an opportunity to contemplate a specific situation or aspect of your life where you want clarity. Start with a question to help you access information. The questions you ask when you are deeply situated within, help you to find the answers you need.

Taking action. It is important to take action after your meditations. That is how you use the information you get from meditative thinking. Taking action is about making the necessary changes in your life so you can easily move forward with any circumstance.

How to apply this in your life

If you have been triggered by any aspect of the coronavirus and experienced emotional or mental upheaval, you could try this meditation practice. It’s best to have a space where you can have some privacy, or a place with the least outside distractions. Take some time at the beginning of the meditation to see what you want from meditating. It could be to find a calm and centered place inside. It could be to release emotions, stress or tension that has built up from the day, the week or the month. Or any other desire or intention that is important for you.

Then put on some music, move your body, and release whatever emotions are there in a conscious and safe manner. Release with a focus on letting go. Once you have released the emotions, sit with quiet instrumental music and practice calming.

From this open and calm place, think about your situation. For example, if you are dealing with a health or financial issue, what clarity do you need? Look at the situation from different perspectives, and write down what comes to you. It is helpful to come up with questions that pertain to your subject to help you find answers. Sometimes you will get information during your meditation session, and sometimes it is like planting seeds with the questions you ask. It may take some time for the clarity to come into focus, but as you get any pieces of information about your topic, write them down.

This modern and dynamic approach to meditation can be used for any situation in your life.