As I sit in my cozy casale al Bolsena Lake, nestled amidst the rolling hills and vineyards, I find solace in the tranquil symphony of nature. The soft patter of rain against my window creates a soothing backdrop, while the aroma of freshly brewed tea fills the air, mingling with memories of sun-kissed summer afternoons.
Today it’s the 10th March, and after a warm February, it seems that winter has returned. But it doesn’t bother me; I love March’s rainy, foggy, and cold days because I feel as if winter is waving at me before it disappears again until December.
In this moment of serenity, surrounded by the sights, sounds, and scents of central Italy, I contemplate the intricacies of the human experience. Today, we embark on a journey to explore the depths of fear, an emotion as complex and multifaceted as the landscape outside my window.
So, as the rain continues to dance outside my window and the aroma of tea lingers in the air, let us delve into the enigma of fear, unravelling its mysteries one thread at a time.
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Fear: An Emotion Like Any Other
Fear is an emotion much like any other, but instead of confronting it head-on, we tend to avoid it, turning away and pretending it doesn’t exist.
Often, all begins when we realize the need (and desire) for a shift in our lives. We might start taking action towards that change, but eventually, we find ourselves stuck, paralyzed by fear.
But as I’ll show you, fear is not something to worry about. When you understand what fear is, you’ll realize it’s completely normal to feel it when facing something new or challenging. Moreover, you’ll learn how to overcome it and get closer to your goals.
Let’s acknowledge that fear can manifest in various forms: fear of changing jobs, fear of leaving a partner, fear of relocating to a new city, fear of death… These are what we might call ‘surface-level fears.‘ They reside on the surface of our minds, convincing us that the situation itself is the cause of our fear when, in reality, fear has many masks but only one true face.
You Need to Know More
Before we reveal fear’s true face, let’s address another question: What about the fear of success or being healthy? Have you ever considered it? It might seem irrational to fear success or health, yet this fear exists.
In our Italian Qi Gong YouTube Channel, we’ve discussed how fear can act as a shield, keeping us away from our responsibilities. After all, if we fail, we won’t have any responsibilities, right? However, today we’re delving deeper into this topic because fear has many layers.
At its core, fear indicates a lack of information. In essence, fear could be translated as a question: ‘What would happen if…?‘ And when this question lacks an answer, fear arises.
Again: fear represents a lack of information. It serves as a demand, urging us to seek more knowledge to progress and answer the question, ‘How am I supposed to do this/to live with this?‘
Conquering Fear Through Clarity: Diminishing its Hold on You
Instead of viewing fear as an enemy, consider it your coach or best friend, asking questions like ‘How will you do that?’ or ‘Did you think about this before doing that?’ Take the time to answer these questions, whether by writing them down or recording your thoughts. The goal is to clarify everything possible and doing that fear will disappear or at least become smaller.
Remember: fear stems from a lack of information, and it’s your responsibility to seek out that information.
Fear is telling you that you don’t have enough answers, so the solution is to replace it with real and objective information. When fear arises, have a conversation with it, identify the missing information, and determine what you need to overcome it.
Fear is one of our best friends on our personal growth journey. So, the next time fear appears, don’t get paralyzed. Instead, take some time for yourself, prepare a cup of tea, sit down in a calm place, and invite fear to talk.
