MAX Mindfulness: Fear and Wholeness

Fear is a big obstacle. There are the day-to-day fears that come up for us. Fast traffic on the freeway. A tornado warning. A snake on our front porch. The fear of speaking up in a meeting. The fear we are going to get sick.

But then there are the really big ones. The ones that we all share together as humanity. The ones that are part of our deepest psyches. The three big ones are fear of separation (being alone); fear of failure (self-esteem); and fear of being good enough. These fears cripple us and keep us from being who we could otherwise be.

There are countless books, classes, seminars, and materials devoted to helping us overcome these fears. There are lists, practices, techniques, applications and many many more that are available for us to use as tools to help us overcome these fears. One could spend the rest of their lifetime focused on these. And...they do help. But...they can also be unhelpful. Why?

Because the very things we focus on become even larger for us. If we focus on our fear of snakes, then every time we take a walk or go out in the woods that thought, “My fear of snakes” will only get stronger because what we think about we strengthen. Many of the tools named above can help us overcome our fears but you have to be very careful not to fall into the trap of becoming even more of the very thing you are trying to rid yourself of in the first place.

Let’s say you are out for a walk in the woods. And that inevitable fear of a slithery reptile crosses your mind once again. It won’t work to say “I can’t wait to see a snake. I love them now.” Because you don’t like them and you are afraid of them. That is not being honest with yourself. The answer is in focusing your mind on something you do like. “I love the smell of the woods.” “I hear the birds singing.” “The flowers are so beautiful.” In other words, take your mind’s focus away from the fear to the things you love and find supportive. You focus your mind on something you DO LIKE or you DO FEEL GOOD ABOUT anytime a fear comes up.

I have found that when you do this your chances of running into a snake diminish. They really do! When I focus on the fear of snakes, I inevitably not only tread carefully and fearfully. I usually end up crossing paths with a snake. Why? Because we are more powerful than we can imagine. We can create and do create our realities! Our minds are so powerful we attract that to which we focus our attention, especially IF that attention is coupled by our emotion. And that emotion can be positive emotion or negative emotion. And most of our fears and the effects of our attraction are more critical than just a fear of snakes. So if we focus on the fear it only strengthens that fear.

So if you want to attract the things you love and don’t fear in your life you have to focus on those things that represent love for you. And focusing on the things you love is another way of staying focused on wholeness. That works for both our personal and professional lives!

Photo of Dave Wine

David Wine

David is the President and CEO of the MAX enterprise, having served in that capacity since its formation in 2001.   He has forty plus years of  leadership experience in the business and faith-based worlds, being an ordained minister, having been elected to the highest position in his denomination,  and receiving numerous awards and recognition for his leadership in the insurance industry. He currently serves on numerous boards in the church and insurance sectors.  His hobbies include hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing as well as being an avid reader.  David and his wife, Sharon, have three daughters, a son, and six grandchildren.

Amy Silvery Agency and MAX Insurance® Donate to Austin’s Alliance of Athletes

(SUNBURY, OH) – Amy Silvery Agency has supported Austin’s Alliance of Athletes program for several years through not only monetary donations, but volunteer time.  This year, the agency is excited to partner with MAX Insurance® to support the 2019 Austin’s Alliance of Athletes Baseball Classic.

Amy Silvery heads the agency.  After learning about the MAX Agent Community Grant Program, she chose Austin’s Alliance of Athletes to be a recipient of a $2,000 grant.  “The Austin’s Alliance of Athletes program helps youth strengthen and create stronger bonds among the youth, their coaches and community,” Silvery said.  “I have seen first-hand how the program helps youth realize the importance of family and I am pleased to partner with MAX Insurance® to support the young lives who are touched through this program.”

Amy Silvery Agency, a member of the Firefly Agency, LLC group, is an independent insurance agency representing MAX Insurance® in Sunbury and surrounding areas.  MAX Insurance®, based in Overland Park, KS, is a unique fair, faithful and socially responsible insurance enterprise.  Founded on religious principles, the company’s mission is to restore wholeness to communities and individuals in need.  It lives out its mission through a variety of quality, fairly-priced insurance products, outstanding personalized customer service and its unique Mutual Aid Ministries program.

“MAX is more than an insurance company.  We truly care beyond the contract,” said David Wine, President and Chief Executive Officer.  “That’s why we are excited to partner with Amy Silvery Agency and help support the Austin’s Alliance of Athletes program in their community.”

For more information:

Amy Silvery Agency
Amy Silvery
7242 SR 656
Sunbury, OH 43074
email  amysilvery@fireflyagency.com
phone (614) 271-9538
website www.fireflyagency.com

MAX Insurance® and Mutual Aid Ministries, visit www.MAXInsurance.com.

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Oakwood Insurance Agency Recognized with Community Service Award from MAX Insurance®

(COON RAPIDS, MN) – Oakwood Insurance Agency of Coon Rapids, MN has earned the Community Service Award from insurance carrier MutualAid eXchange (“MAX”).  The MAX Community Service Award recognizes Oakwood Insurance Agency’s significant contributions to their community through their time, actions, and dedication.

Bruce and Darlene Sogn are heads of the agency.  Earlier this year, they and their team participated in the MAX Agent Community Grant Program, where they chose Haven for Heroes to be a recipient. Haven for Heroes has undertaken the renovation of the old State Hospital buildings, converting them to temporary housing for homeless veterans in Anoka.  A $2,000 grant was given to help with the renovations.

“At Oakwood Insurance Agency we try to fulfill the same values of fairness, faith and social responsibility that MAX believes in, whether it’s at work or volunteering in the community,” Sogn said.

The Oakwood Insurance Agency is an independent insurance agency representing MAX Insurance® in Coon Rapids and surrounding areas.  MAX Insurance®, based in Overland Park, KS, is a unique fair, faithful and socially responsible insurance enterprise.  Founded on religious principles, the company’s mission is to restore wholeness to communities and individuals in need.  It lives out its mission through a variety of quality, fairly-priced insurance products, outstanding personalized customer service and its unique Mutual Aid Ministries program.

“MAX is a company built on faith, strong values and service to others.  That’s the kind of independent agents we look for and we’re proud to recognize Oakwood Insurance Agency for being among the best of these,” said David Wine, President and Chief Executive Officer of MAX.

Oakwood Insurance Agency is located at 2003 NW Northdale Blvd, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.  Phone: 763-754-1824. Email dsogn@oakwoodinsurance.com.  Website www.oakwoodinsurance.com

MAX Insurance® is headquartered at 4400 College Boulevard, Suite 250, Overland Park, KS 66211.  Phone:  877-971-6300.  To learn more about MAX, visit www.maxinsurance.com.

Photo:  Phil Blount, MAX Field Sales Director, Bruce Sogn, Oakwood Insurance Agency Principal, and John Wearda, MAX Regional Sales Manager

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