What if fear was the easy thing? The sensation, so familiar. A safe blanket to hide under when we are exposed.
“I’m too scared.” We’ve said it once, said it twice, said it thrice, each minute, each day.
“I’m not too scared,” means we actually must go and do it.
To know ourselves as powerful - to know, not just to dream - is to know that we are stronger than our fear.
This knowledge, bone-deep, asks us - “Will you stand? Or will you cower in the face of your own fear?”
This fear is so alluring. It feels monumental. Deadly. But this fear is little more than primal response.
“Grizzly! Tiger! Death!” It demands. When in reality - this fear is real, but based in story.
We are afraid that what we say will do harm on another.
We are afraid that what we do will not “succeed.”
We are afraid we will upset someone, isolate ourselves from love.
We are afraid we will be judged, we will be shunned.
We are afraid that if we try, it will not be enough.
We are afraid that if we open, we will be stung.
We are afraid we will be lost, in the face of newfound loss.
We are afraid that we will untether from control.
Natural. Physiological. Conditioned. Learned fear.
And yet - still nowhere near a grizzly.
A fear we can bear. A fear that is not a bear. A fear that’s handled, if we choose it.
I am scared. And.
I am bold enough to do it. I am scared and my fear does not control me.
Practice saying - I am scared, I am scared, I am scared.
Let the incantation melt away at its edges.
I am scared - melt, melt, melt.
I am scared - until you’re at the molten center.
I am scared - and. My core burns hot beneath it all.
I am scared - and. My power is much stronger.
I am scared - and. I marry action with deep surrender.
This fear, then, slowly loses its gorgeous luster. It fades into irrelevance over time.
As we begin to trade its warmth for our fire, for our heat.
We ignite the real forces that we are made of.
Face it - you contain an endless stream of light.
Face it - you are bursting with spirit.
Face it - your darkness is penetrable, impermanent.
Face it - your choice is your salvation.
Thank you, fear, for protecting me from the unknown.
Thank you, for showing me what I’m made of.
Thank you, for your service, which at this point, is complete.
Thank you, for the temporary visit.
When you come again - I will happily greet you at the door.
And remind you, over and over, of your farce.
What you drape - with that fuzzy, familiar, comforting warmth.
Lies a grizzly.
That I can no longer ignore.