A jarring shock! First fear, then a sharpened, clearer vision of life: that is the process of change implied in this reading. Recall a close brush with danger -- an automobile accident barely avoided, an escape from a potentially violent confrontation. These incidents first arouse every nerve fiber in your body in a brief wave of terror, but soon, once the danger has passed, give way to a heightened awareness of the world. The same process also occurs with other types of shock -- the loss of a job, the death of a loved one, business failure and so on.
The lasting impact of a major shock can either be stimulating or debilitating, depending upon one's inner strength of character. The critical factor is the ability to become immune to fear, thereby transforming anxiety into a laser-sharp perception of the world around you.
