You can't face fear until you embrace fear.

"I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me."

~Frank Herbert

It's easy to believe that the very brave do not give a thought to their fears.

We rationalize that those who run into a burning building or rescue a child from swift waters must have somehow learned to vanquish any fear they might have to their mortal body. How else could they manage to keep their mind clear and perform such feats of human amazement?  At times in our lives, we may sit motionless, feeling stuck by a fear that has gripped us. We gulp as we wish, hope and pray that we could have that same ability to simply ignore our fears, and take a step. Just make any move at all...

But we are missing something vital as we sit and allow our fears to paralyze us.

The very brave not only recognize their fears, they fully understand them. They know what the fear is capable of doing to them, and have given the fear the proper respect it deserves. Rather than allow the fear to incapacitate them from taking action, they have used their ability to comprehend the fear to find ways to absorb it. As the quote says above, to allow it to 'pass over and through them.' It leaves nothing behind. Nothing of damage. Only the power of knowledge.

Is it not true that NO ONE can understand what makes you afraid better than you?

Perhaps instead of keeping this awareness trapped inside of us, or pushing it aside in some effort to deny it, we should take a good look at its core. Embrace the fear, call it out by name. Consider why it is so dangerous, considerable or daunting. And once you've dissected it, you will be able to train for how you can allow it to pass through you as you move forward.

Looking ahead to what you are called to do, or where you are called to be.

It still exists, but it no longer prevents you.

You now prevent it from stopping you.

Cheers.