Move Toward What You’re Afraid Of
By Thoughtis
So much of our lives are dictated by what we fear. Rejection, judgment, failure. Sometimes I feel like half the things we do are because we’re trying to avoid becoming lepers of society. The people I most admire are the ones who just don’t give a hot damn about anything other than the positive and living out their own purpose.
But fear, man. It’s everywhere. It’s so many of our actions. It’s why I got up this morning and put on mascara and a dress. I was afraid to not “look okay.” What does that even mean? Look okay for who? Anybody who really matters will love me regardless of what I look like. And I’m lucky enough to have people in my life who do love me for who I am. The point is, I was, and really kind of still am, afraid of not being good enough. I’m afraid to admit that for who will judge me for being petty. I’m afraid you’ll judge me for admitting that I’m petty. Why? I don’t know. The human condition? Maybe. How we’ve been conditioned? Probably.
But what I do know is that there is a way to choose otherwise. And that’s moving toward what you’re afraid of. If you’re afraid of conflict, reach out and make amends. If it’s something you’ve done wrong, admit your fault and apologize. Fear only has it’s grasp on you for as long as you let it. Confront it and it won’t be a paralyzing issue anymore. That’s how you build peace and restore your life.
Fear can cripple you. We’re all at war with each other in our own little ways, literally gathering guns and metaphorically building cages within our minds. I’m here to tell you that anything that makes you reach for weaponry for a sense of comfort somehow, somewhere along the line, has to do with fear.
It’s not about simply switching your state of mind. You can’t just get over what you fear because you decide to. I won’t pretend it’s that easy. Nor is it easy to face it. But you know why it’s worth it? Because you can lift that weight off your chest yourself. And there are few things more gratifying than taking control of your own life and how you feel about it.