The other day I was watching the movie "Still Alice" when I got to thinking about fear.
We all have fears.
I fear one day I will have lost all my loved ones. I fear one day I will have to put down my horse, my long-time best friend. I fear one day I'll go out for a run, and my heart will fail like my dad. I fear one day I'll wake up and forget my own name. I fear one day I'll turn forward only to realize it's too late, and the car won't stop in time no matter how hard I slam my foot on the brake. I fear one day I'll jump out of a plane to experience the amazing view and the parachute won't release or a cord will snap. I fear one day the ocean will swallow us all up or perhaps the sun will fail to rise.
We all have fears.
But we mustn't let fear determine who we are and what we do. You will never know the day you experience your greatest fear. It could be tomorrow. It could be 20 years from now. It could have been yesterday. Don't let your fears hold you back.
If we let fear control our lives, we miss out on a lot of things. For example, if you live in fear of getting in a car crash and rarely drive anywhere far, you may miss out on something amazing like a family member being born because you chose to stay home in safety from your fears. If I always lived in fear of having a heart attack like my father did, then I would never exercise, which would leave my heart in an unhealthy position and at risk for the same condition. If I let my fear of heights keep me at ground level all the time, I'd never get to see the beautiful views of the world from another perspective.
Many people say they're afraid to try new things, but by letting our fears hold us back, we may miss the experiences of a lifetime. Maybe you'll try something new and discover another, more intriguing career path. Or perhaps it will lead you to start a new hobby that makes you happier. Getting over the fear of trying new things can completely change your life for the better and enhance it.
People are also often afraid to fall in love. Sure, you may get your heart broken once or twice in your life. But, believe it or not, it's not the end of the world, and we learn from such events. And perhaps you won't get your heart broken. Maybe, if you let yourself, you will fall in love with someone amazing who may play a major role in your future. You'll never know though if you let your fears dominate your life choices.
Rather than live in fear, we must learn to live with fear. It's okay to have fears; no one is fearless, but we shouldn't let fear have such a large influence over our every move. Set aside the fearful thoughts. Go for that run along the beach. Drive to see your family. Skydive. Fall deeply in love with someone. Live in the moment and be thankful each morning you get to live with fear for one more day.
