Fear: The Monster Under Your Bed

The author examines the significance of moving out of your comfort zone and defeating your fears.

Fear holds us back more often than it should. Fear restricts us and stops us from achieving things which we are perfectly capable of achieving. We have learnt that it is safer to fit into the mould of known emotions, known territory, known work/job criterion. We have learnt that trying something new or choosing something different is risky.

‘Playing safe’ is traditionally what we do, despite the innumerable examples that we see, read and hear about doing otherwise. We choose to obliterate the methodology of people who have stepped out of the safe boundaries despite their fears and apprehensions. We categorize them as ‘brave’ or ‘lucky’. We choose to revere them and say – “Wow, I wish I could do that !” Well, why can’t you? Who stops you from achieving what you ‘want’ to achieve? Who is holding you back?

I think successful people are not fearless or unafraid. I think successful people choose to keep going, despite their fears. I think success depends upon how well one is aware of one’s fears. It also depends upon how well one understands these fears and deals with them. Our fears are created by our own minds and our perceived limitations. Our fears could also have been given to us by our parents, teachers and caregivers. Despite all of that, as adults we owe it to ourselves to delve into our minds and deal with those fears.

It is alright to know that there is a monster under the bed. Being aware of the monster under the bed, allows us to prepare ourselves to deal with that very monster under the bed, and identical ones that might appear through the night. Being aware of our fears allows us to prepare ourselves to deal with these fears and other identical ones that might appear as life goes by. Awareness allows us the following choices 1) deal with the fears 2) let go of the fears and 3) sometimes just make peace with them.

Awareness is the most powerful tool we possess, towards making a change. 

In the words of the wise – “A further sign of health is that we don’t become undone by fear and trembling, but we take it as a message that it’s time to stop struggling and look directly at what’s threatening us. ”  – Pema Chödrön

So, It is alright to have fears. It is alright to be aware of your fears. It is alright to choose to deal with your fears. It is alright to let go of your fears. It is also alright to make peace with your fears.

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What is not alright is-To continue feeding your fears, to continue staying frozen by your fears, to continue walking a few steps behind everyone else, due to your fears and to continue staying still because of your fears.

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