We are living in a world of significant change.

Our brains interpret ‘change’ as scary, unknown, unfamiliar, and unpredictable. When that happens, the brain automatically releases hormones and chemicals that drive inflammation, cortisol, and much more. These then impact our emotional, physical, and spiritual health.

If this season of our world is creating ‘fear’ of any kind in you, you must learn simple ways to flip the switch and step into peace and calm . . . Or experience the consequences of fear!

How can we escape fear and live the life of shalom (peace) the Lord provides?

I have loved Proverbs for many years. It was the wisdom that empowered me to overcome depression during a tough season of our lives. Our finances had dried up; my hormones were a mess; I had just had a baby; I had lost my ‘job-based’ identity, and fear had the uncanny ability to paralyze me and spiral me into deeper depression.

It only took a moment for any news or change in circumstances to trigger that fear response, which instantly connected me to depression and suicidal thoughts.

Today, our world, country, state, and families are facing many unfamiliar changes.

Our brains are designed to interpret unpredictable, unknown, and unfamiliar changes as threatening and unsafe. That triggers inflammation, cortisol, shallow breathing, and sympathetic nervous system stress.

We can’t change that response, but we can INTERRUPT it! Two of my favorite interrupts are the vagus nerve reset and the startle reflex reset. These resets help calm the nervous system. You can watch the Vagus Nerve Reset and Startle Reflex Reset on my YouTube channel (and the links are at the end of this post). I wish I had had these skills many years ago when I was in the midst of my ‘fear and depression’ struggle. They are such powerful tools – I now use them daily!

We also have the opportunity to BUILD. I love Proverbs 24:3, especially in the Passion Translation.

“Wise People are Builders! They build families, businesses, and communities.

And through intelligence and insight, their enterprises are established and endure.”
~ Proverbs 24:3

If you are a wise person (or desire to be one), this is your season to build and make a difference. The first step toward wisdom, amid significant change, is learning to ‘change your mind’ on how you interpret what is happening!

Remember this truth:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
~ 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJ

This promise was key for me to interrupt my fear/suicidal thoughts 35+ years ago. I have said it thousands of times to refocus my brain. It is a powerful promise that interrupts the fear loop and replaces the fear thoughts.

Remember, once your mind has ‘interpreted’ circumstances, the brain releases all of the appropriate hormones and chemicals that support that interpretation. If the interpretations are fear, anger, or overwhelm, then inflammation and stress responses happen automatically. If the interpretations are excitement to build, discover the new, or create healthy communities, then healthy hormones and chemicals are released!

Your thoughts and interpretations matter! You can constantly interrupt fear through resets, speaking the truth, and speaking the promises of God. Your spoken words matter!

I pray that the Lord would bless each of you with the spirit of love and a sound mind to cast out the spirit of fear in your lives!