Fear Not

The closer we keep our fears, the more we stay true to ourselves.

I have very recently experienced a lot of stress due to external forces and the kind of personal growth I have experienced as a result has been astounding. Fear brings reality home; if not the current reality, then future reality. 

Fear is a maligned term. It's a harsh coach, who cries hoarse, but means well. Fears helps you focus intensely. It helps you cross the line. Fear makes you confront what you really love. It helps you discover or find a refuge, and make it home.

And if you make fear your companion, you will see that it gives you the best counsel. Fear helps your find yourself. People trust you more when they see that your fears do not overwhelm you, otherwise it shows and they avoid you. Summon your fears and embrace it a bit more every day. Walk with it, literally. Cradle fear close to your bosom.

In fact, if you’re the impatient kind, a healthy dose of fear every now and then will make you more patient.

But it's not easy. Fear is not knowing what’ll happen. Fear at first is the raging storm outside; it is the snarling, rabid dog waiting to tear you apart; it's the next step in the dark. It takes faith and desperation to take that step.

Naturally, if fear does that to us, our first instinct would be to keep distance from it. So we try – all of us – to stay away from something that is unknown or makes us uncomfortable and irritable. It becomes the reason for some of us to exist; this avoidance of fear. And so, we stop growing over time.  

So even if it’s a cliché, I’ll say that facing your fears is the answer. Be patient with fear. Walk with it.