Finding peace when confronted by fear and rigidity.
I recently shared a significant part of my life story on the Mormon Stories podcast, and while the responses have been mostly positive, some have struck a dogmatic, fearful tone. And by fear, I mean fear born of the belief that if these individuals do not call everyone with whom they disagree to repentance, they will be punished by an angry God.
I make it a rule not to engage directly with rigid, fearful people who believe they are on a divine mission. My experience has taught me that no amount of engagement, loving, logical, or otherwise, will open them to a broader perspective. While I feel sad in these situations, I accept where they are on their human journey. As the popular expression goes, I let them do whatever makes them feel better.
So I sat with my higher self to get some perspective. Here's what came through.
What struck me first, as I opened to receive this message, was how much compassion surrounded it. Not frustration. Not judgment. Just a deep, patient love for all of us, including the fearful ones. The message opened with a simple and tender acknowledgment:
As we watch and observe human interactions, we see how fear consciousness grips so many, and how they speak and act from a place of fear, not love.
Some people use their faith and holy books to justify perpetuating suffering. Others fear taking responsibility for their own decisions, so they surrender their power to institutions that tell them what to believe, think, and do. Certainty, from that place, comes from believing what they're told rather than listening to what they feel in their hearts. They feel safe because they've handed their sovereignty to someone else, and they stand by as the institutions they've trusted commit harmful acts against their fellow humans.
What I was shown is that what we see unfolding on this planet right now is a reset. The old way of doing things is dying, and a new world is being born. A significant and growing number of people are reclaiming their power and expanding their consciousness. The process is already well underway for many, and the pace of awakening is only quickening.
Rather than getting angry with those who retreat further into fear, who use religion and scripture to keep fear consciousness alive, the guidance was clear: love them. Love them more than you fear them. They are our brothers and sisters, after all, and every human, no matter how fearful, angry, or entrenched in their beliefs, deserves to be treated with respect.
How do we respect them? Let them feel as they do. Let them believe as they do. Let them behave as they do. Refuse to engage on fear's terms. Walk away if they try to pull you into their debates. It may take tremendous effort, but allowing people to be exactly where they are is not weakness. It is one of the highest forms of respect.
And for those moments when an angry person makes your heart race and your pulse quicken, when you feel the urgent need to respond to something hurtful: hold your peace. Take a deep breath. Wait until you can hear your heart clearly. When you are calm, be guided by the love and joy that live there, and lead by example. That is how we do our greatest good.
Every human, regardless of their conscious state or how they live their life, is loved beyond measure and without conditions. Humanity's free will is its greatest gift and its highest responsibility. When you exercise your free will to follow your heart and do your greatest good, you will transform the world around you.
And this is what I hold onto, especially when the noise gets loud:
The full resources of All That Is are always available to assist you. You need only ask, and you will receive the help you desire. We are united as infinite expressions of All That Is. For this, we are eternally grateful.
Reflecting on this message, I'm reminded that the greatest act of sovereignty is staying centered in love when the world around us is reacting in fear. Respecting someone's journey doesn't mean agreeing with them. It means honoring their free will while choosing not to let their unrest become our own. Peace isn't found in winning an argument. It's found in the quiet strength of walking away from one.
Sharing my story on Mormon Stories was an act of vulnerability and liberation. While I anticipated some pushback, seeing the fear-based responses firsthand was a sobering reminder of how deeply many are still tied to institutional certainty. If you are feeling the weight of others' expectations or judgments right now, you are not alone. I am choosing to let them be where they are, so that I can continue to be where I am: in a place of joy, sovereignty, and peace.
Be well. Be joyous. Be grateful. Always.
With love, Appio 🌿
