LOVE OVER FEAR

“The happy and effective person is motivated, not by fear of wrongdoing, but by love of right doing.” [UB, 140:4.6]

Thought Adjuster: “Let us look at spiritual evolution considering the above statement. Fear has been the first building block of religion. In that sense, it was a step in the right direction even though many irrational factors dictated it. By its very nature, fear is irrational, as it triggers a brain freeze and the individual is taken ‘hostage’ by such a debilitating emotion and loses the capacity to think clearly in such intense moments.

For many generations, your ancestors were naturally fearful. They lived in hostile and mysterious environments and were not privy to the logical explanations brought over many millennia by scientific revelations. Their lives were filled with traumatizing unknowns, the cause of which they interpreted as wrathful rather than benevolent. This is why, to this day, the fear of the unknown remains so prevalent and can give rise to many illogical and superstitious interpretations and behaviors.

The fear of wrongdoings dictated so many religious taboos, followed later by interdictions, i.e., commandments expressed in negatives: “Thou shalt not” do this or that. Adherence to these basic commandments was meant to avoid divine wrath, as God Himself was feared. Children who are fearful of their parents may be submissive but do not thrive emotionally.

Jesus incarnated on the planet bearing ‘good news.’ He made it very clear that God is loving, close, and personal. In this sense, Jesus was a revolutionary, as he introduced a totally new version of religious attitude. He promoted positive reinforcement rather than emotional blackmail. He formulated a positive Rule of Conduct—the Golden Rule. It could not be otherwise, as God never resorts to coercion but to the irresistible power of attraction of love, rather than the force of dissuasion of fear.

Such a shift in spiritual understanding is the first step toward happiness and efficiency. Scrutinize your motivations and learn to deactivate fear triggers, as what you do out of fear or mere sense of duty does not raise your vibrations and greatly depreciates the value of your actions. Focus on your heart and teach it to remain open so that it can be love-driven. Only love can paint your actions in bright and happy colors, put a smile on your face, and beautify the planetary landscape.”