The Little Fears

The Little Fears

There is a quote from a great author about fear being the mind-killer. It’s a good quote and one we do well to remember.

I feel, however, that when we think of this quote we most often think of overwhelming crippling fears, such as arachnophobia. Or we think of desperate situations where paralyzing fear may rob us of the ability to do what is right, such as running into a burning building or fending off a wild animal.

Such thoughts are welcome but if we are being honest more fanciful than realistic. Most of us will not have the opportunity to run into a burning building to save a life and I pray you never do.

Instead I want to talk about the “little” fears. The anxieties that hold us back, stay our hand and which we ignore because “it’s a little thing, so it’s no big deal.” But little things add up, don’t they? Each time you give in to the “little fear” you rob from yourself a little more until one day you realize you owe yourself a mountain of capitol.

If you’re lucky. If you’re not lucky you will keep paying that debt and never understand how you’ve hobbled yourself.

I say this because I am very much guilty of bowing to the “little fear”. Of paying off tomorrow with today because I’d rather not confront potential danger, discomfort, or sadness. I cannot say, truthfully, that I will never given in to those “little fears” in the future but I can say this.

“I recognize the fears I hide from and I resolve to confront them.”

That’s the other part, you must confront our fears as you choose, or the consequences of not doing so will confront you. And as I said in another blog long ago, “best to fight on your own terms.”

Yes, confronting your fears means that you may fail in some way meaningful to you but it is also the only way to succeed in ways meaningful to you as well. And I’m willing to wager you’ll win more of those fights than you loose.

I hope you have found this missive as helpful to read as I did to write.

Thank you my dear readers and God bless;

~S. Wallace