It is easy to throw a label onto something that we do not quite understand. The overall notion of fear can be scary or uncomfortable to think about, but when put into perspective, it can be eye opening. For instance, a walk in the woods can be considered "scary" because we think we are afraid of what might be lurking around. This can be a valid point, but what you should be thinking about is what is not around you. We all conjure up scenarios in our heads that paralyze us with fear. I thought I was afraid of the person who could be seen walking the same trail as me, but it turns out my fear actually lies in feeling alone in a desolate place like the woods. The absence of personified life is a trembling thought. Being alone is scary, not because you are alone though, but because you are not completely alone. Our minds tirelessly work to fill in the gaps of our abstract world. Almost everything we fear is completely learned behavior. We can change these behaviors if we learn to change our perspective on the world.
We aren't afraid of heights; we are afraid of falling. We aren't afraid of falling in love; we are afraid of the moments to come that leave us heartbroken. We aren't afraid of snakes; we are afraid of getting bitten. We aren't afraid of storms or flying, clowns or insects, intimacy or balloons; we are afraid of losing our dominance. We are afraid of dying.
We can combat our fears only by indulging in them. Be afraid of falling, but still jump. Be afraid of drowning, but still swim. This is the only way that we can realize our irrationalness. Taking the leap is the only way to see that the drop was not as bad as you imagined; that the waters we swim in are not that deep. This is when we truly start living. Take a risk and expose yourself to the wonders of your deepest fears.
