Facing the Bear. (2 min 11 sec)

We stroll through life, thinking everything is peachy. The bills are paid, the sun shines, and we’ve got our routines down to a science. Life is hunky-dory — until it isn’t. That’s when the sh*t hits the fan, and suddenly, we’re not so sure of anything anymore. It’s like a bear, once harmless and distant, suddenly picking up a gun. You never saw it coming, but now you’re staring down the barrel of something you can’t control or comprehend.

Enter Existential Dread: The Uninvited Guest

This isn’t just some fleeting worry or a bad day; this is existential dread. It’s the deep, gut-wrenching anxiety that creeps in when you start questioning everything you thought you knew. What’s the point of it all? Why am I even here? When the usual distractions — work, relationships, the daily grind —  stop working, and you’re left alone with your thoughts, that’s when the bear tightens its grip.

The Perfect Storm: Triggers of Existential Crisis

You think you’re safe until something happens that shakes you to your core. Maybe it’s a global pandemic that turns your world upside down, a climate crisis that makes you question the future, or a personal loss that leaves you reeling. These aren’t just bumps in the road; they’re earthquakes that shatter the very ground you stand on. The symptoms aren’t just emotional—they’re physical. Anxiety gnaws at you, depression weighs you down, and your once orderly life feels like it’s spiraling out of control.

Face the Bear or Run? The Choice Is Yours

When the bear’s got the gun, you’ve got two choices: face it head-on or run. Most people run, diving into distractions, denial, or even despair. But what if you turned around and faced the bear? What if you stared down that barrel and asked the hard questions: What’s my purpose? What really matters? It’s terrifying, sure, but it’s also liberating. Because in facing the bear, you might just find that the gun isn’t loaded — it’s just a prop, a wake-up call to start living authentically.

The Aftermath: Reclaiming Your Life

Surviving existential dread isn’t about finding all the answers — it’s about embracing the questions. It’s about realizing that life’s uncertainties aren’t something to fear but something to explore. When the dust settles, you might find that the bear was never the enemy — it was a guide, pushing you to look deeper, live fuller, and question the status quo.

So, the next time you feel the bear closing in, don’t panic. Grab the gun, hold it steady, and pull the trigger on your old illusions. What’s left might just be the truth you’ve been searching for all along.

#thinkgod
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you.