“I saw it with my own eyes, and heard it with my own ears, and part of it fell on my head.”
~Chicken Little
Do you always believe that the worst is about to happen? Do you jump to conclusions? Are you often worried and afraid? Do you believe everything you read on the internet or the news?
Then you may have CLS…Chicken Little Syndrome.
Do you remember the story of Chicken Little? It doesn’t have a very happy ending. Maybe you heard it as a child or maybe you’ve told it to your own children.
This is the story to remind you or maybe tell you for the first time:
Chicken Little is walking along when an apple falls on her head. She immediately jumps to a conclusion that “the sky is falling”. She shares this information with everyone she meets along the way, Ducky Lucky, Henny Penny, Goosey Loosey, Turkey Lurkey. She infects all the farmyard animals with her fear. They decide to tell the king that the sky is falling. But along the way, they fall in with a sly fox. In the end the fox lures everyone in to a cave to become his supper. In the worse versions of the story, everyone is dinner but in the better ones everyone narrowly escapes being the fox’s dinner.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of the name “Chicken Little” is “one who warns of or predicts calamity, especially without justification”. This goes all the way back to 1898.
This fable exposes our modern culture of fear. In modern times there are so many things to be afraid of! The economy, the environment, our children’s safety, cancer, do we have enough moisture, enough snow, too much heat, antibiotics that are germ-resistant, lunch boxes that are cold enough, immigrants or no social security someday. And don’t forget the world is ending at the end of this year!
So many people are infected with CLS that, if you’re not careful, it’s easy to catch. Just like a cold, you can catch a case of CLS occasionally or you may end up with a chronic case.
Here are the symptoms:
• worried about the future
• fears cloud your mind
• your brain is filled with the chatter of your fear
• the world around you seems chaotic – everyone is caught up in the fear
• doubts make you start playing a what if game
• watching too much media
• safety is utmost on your mind
Many of the fears we have are groundless. Fears can paralyze you. Fear causes one to be unwilling to change. Fear causes you to lost trust. And most of what we fear never comes to pass.
The cure?
1. Positive thinking – Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change! This is my mantra and it works!
2. Use humor and common sense to combat the fear. If you’re smiling and laughing it’s hard to be fearful. And when you’re happy it’s easier to tap into common sense.
3. Everything in moderation. Sometimes we are fearful of eating something that might lead to cancer or heart disease. We end up on the extremes of fads because scientists have a new study about eggs or coffee. You know yourself. Don’t fall for all those studies and be afraid to live life.
4. Stop playing “what if?” This is a dangerous game! What if the plane crashes? What if she’s mad at me? What if my child grows up and does drugs? What if I can’t pay my bills? Most of the “what if” game never comes to pass. Don’t let this consume you.
5. Stop watching negative media. I’m not asking you to have your head in the sand. I’m asking you not to watch negative news. Try the Happy News! Be inspired by something happy instead of negative.
6. Be an optimist. Things are usually not as bad as our mind makes them out to be. Wait until morning to be an optimist. Sometimes things seem worse at night.
7. Live in the moment. Try a short meditation visualization. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Visualize a river. Imagine putting all your fearful thoughts into the river and watching them go, like a leaves, down the stream.
So it’s time to change and rewrite the story of Chicken Little. The title of the new story could be:
Carpe Diem! Carpe Diem!
or When Life Drops Apples On Your Head, Make Apple Pie
And the new story could be something like this:
An apple falls on Chicken Little’s head. She first looks up to see if the sky is falling. Instead of jumping to conclusions, she doesn’t panic but takes a closer look. She looks down and realizes that what fell on her head is actually a delicious treat. She decides to make apple pie and invites all her friends over.
And what about the fox? Why is it that the smart fox is always portrayed as the bad guy?
She invites the fox because a smart guy who is spontaneous and always seizes the moment should be a friend not an enemy.
A good time is had by all. In fact, Chicken Little starts going outside more hoping that more and different treats fall out of the sky for her.
So, like Chicken Little, rewrite your own fable of fear into a beautiful one of seizing the moment and being an optimist.
“When writing the story of your Life, make sure you don’t end up with a manuscript full of shoulda’s, coulda’s and woulda’s. Fill your pages instead with, took a chance, went for it and I did it!”
~ via Choose Happiness!
Photo credit: http://www.bbmlive.com
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Oh yes, most people allow the fear of the future to ruin their present, which is a perfectly good gift.
I completely believe in positive thinking because I feel it gears me towards finding solutions and prevents me from sulking or blowing the problem into a much bigger thing than it is, in my mind. 
A positive attitude enriches life tremendously!
[Reply]
Betsy Reply:
January 27th, 2012 at 4:13 am
I love what you wrote that “most people allow the fear of the future to ruin their present”…perfectly put. I now that you have a great ability for positive thought. It’s the only way to go!
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Oh yay! This is a wondddddddderful post! I like the part about making apple pie, lol. And all this poultry talk and I’m getting hungry.
But seriously, great advice Betsy! I love your numbered list of cures – although I would actually recommend watching the news, lol. Only because it shocks me to see how many people I know that have absolutely NO clue as to what is going on in the world these days. I’m not saying to go crazy with the news, just at least know what’s happening.
And who would have thought that Websters would have a definition for Chicken Little! That one blows my mind, lol!
Have a terrific weekend!
~Sheila
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Betsy Reply:
January 27th, 2012 at 7:04 am
Thanks Sheila! Glad you liked it! I’ve been accused of having having my head in the sand. I find my news where I want but it’s not on the normal negative, TV news.
Have a wonderful weekend, too!!
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Hi Betsy!
Chicken LIttle Syndrome! Now that explains ALOT about our society, doesn’t it?
What great cures you have, Zen Mama!
I like the apple pie too. I love the book “CLoudy with a chance of meatballs.” That came to mind to me, with the apples. If it rained apples, there would be enough apple pie for the whole village….and everyone could come together and have a sweet party!
Love your post, as usual. A good one for me this week, although FINALLY have all kids back in school. Today is a catch-up day!
Love,
Jen ♫
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Betsy Reply:
January 30th, 2012 at 7:12 am
I thought of it while in a group of woman who were talking about all the bad things that were going to happen. And of course, being a preschool teacher, I thought that they all sounded like Chicken Little. I started last fall and just got back it. Thanks so much for commenting. Hope life is getting better!
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I love the phrase “when writing the story of your life”.
When I think about my day ahead and I’m gong to write it into my story that surely changes how I would make my choices.
Mahalo
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Betsy Reply:
January 30th, 2012 at 7:13 am
I love that phrase, too. I found it on facebook! Thanks for coming by Jt!
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Hi Betsy,
Great post about combating fear. We need to read more, because as you said there is something new to be afraid of everyday. Taking the step by step approach helps. I agree with your No. 1 as well. Being positive goes along way in letting go of our fear.
Have a good weekend!
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Betsy Reply:
January 30th, 2012 at 7:16 am
Thanks Cathy! Being positive is my best way to combat my fears but it isn’t always easy that’s for sure!
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This is genius. So many people need to read this, including me. I will share!
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Betsy Reply:
January 30th, 2012 at 7:16 am
Thanks Lucy!! And I appreciate the share!
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Hi Betsy,
I love your use of Chicken Little….great way to leave a real imprint about how fear can erode the joy in our lives.
Your tips are spot on. Reading them is a great way for me to start my day! Fran
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Betsy Reply:
January 30th, 2012 at 7:17 am
As a preschool teacher I always am thinking about fables and how they are really are great teachers in our lives!
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I pulled the plug on TV years ago and haven’t missed a thing. My mother used to email me with the horrific news of the day. After a few of those emails, I had to ask her to stop. If something important is happening, I’ll find out about it somehow but I certainly don’t go looking for it. Because of this, I certainly don’t feel left out. I’m much happier and have less stress having taken this step.
This is a great list. One that I would add that I’ve used often: Play the worst case scenario game. It’s like using #4: What If? for the good. Instead of asking the “what if” question and staying in the fear, answer the question, ask it again and keep answering it. What if I lose my job? I’ll get another one. What if I can’t pay my bills? I’ll sell some of my stuff, get a second job. If the answer to the question isn’t your death, then it’s not that bad. Really.
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Betsy Reply:
January 30th, 2012 at 7:18 am
I don’t feel left out, either! I still see what I like. We also watch Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood on the computer which is kind of a happy news as well. And I love the “worst case senario game”! Great idea!!
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What a great perspective you have! There are so many people who through their constant worry about the future miss out on all the wondrous things that are happening right now. If we live in a state of continuous fear and worry, we leave no room for joy and wonder to enter our lives. To me that is merely muddling through life, it is not living it. Thank you. I hope your message of hope and positivity reaches far and wide because there are many who need to hear it.
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Betsy Reply:
January 30th, 2012 at 7:22 am
Your comment is spot on! I love your sentence, “merely muddling through life, it is not living it.” Thanks for coming by Larry and giving your perspective!!
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Betsy,
I love this…absolutely love this! I’m going to my blog to link to you today! xo
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Betsy Reply:
January 30th, 2012 at 7:10 am
Thanks Tess! I thought of you as I wrote this!
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Another brilliant post! (and love catching up with you with my morning coffee today!)
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