roshnikakadFear does not prevent death. It prevents life”
– Buddha
Courage begins at the edge of fear
Recently, I stood on the edge of a steel platform suspended above the Bhote Koshi River on the Tibet–Nepal border, about to leap into a canyon swing. With the river roaring beneath me, every logical part of my brain whispered, ‘You can still back out’. My heart fell into my stomach. Fear wasn’t dramatic or loud. It was quiet, calculated, convincing; the kind that wraps itself around reason and murmurs, ’Dont’ trust the harness’.
But the second I stepped off the ledge and surrendered to the fall, my mind stopped racing, as if everything shifted into slow motion. I realised fear isn’t always the enemy; sometimes it’s a mirror, a compass, a doorway into something bigger. And that moment led me here, to ask…
What are we afraid of?
Maybe we’re scared to risk starting over- move to a new country to probably end up feeling homesick, or leave a dead end job that paid the bills to much rather invest capital in a new venture that may tank. We could be afraid of difficult confrontations in a toxic relationship, to ask for what we want, or express what we don’t want, only to be left abandoned, maybe. And very often, we fear the inevitable- death of a loved one, being laid off a job or even rejection.
..what are we really afraid of?
Uncertainty. An end result we’ve tailor made in our minds, for a future that hasn’t arrived. Time and again, I’ve realised how the source of fear is deeply rooted to a form of attachment- a comfort zone, sense of security, love, status, even pride. Having said that, fearing the inevitable is certainly the hardest when we know the outcome is out of our control. But the longer we cling onto any fear, it only ferments into a toxicity that robs us of the one thing we can control- the narrative of our present.
Fear is grey
If we could view fear as a double edged sword, we’d realise it serves as a warning and a guide. It can protect, and at the same time remind us to recognise the blessings and opportunities, eventually aligning us with our values, passion and purpose. The nature of how we respond to the now, potentially shapes what the future can offer. I’m not certain if one can always overcome a fear. But I do believe it can be conquered the moment we begin, to accept and recognise when and how fear is influencing our actions.
Give yourself enough credit, for the times you took that first step towards addressing your fears. Take a moment to celebrate that time when you looked fear in the eye, and how that set you free.
