Ramblings On Fear

The fear of the unknown is almost always worse than the reality. Its the fear that keeps us trapped in the same old life like a bird in a cage with the door wide open. We have a dream, we have an idea, but what if it doesn’t work? So we don’t take the leap and we stay in the cage. 

Its helpful to think about the worst case scenario and to get comfortable with it. Maybe I will go broke. Maybe the plane will crash. Maybe everybody will make fun of me. Some things are just worth the risk. 

There are plenty of voices out there perpetuating the fear. We live in a generation that values safety over freedom and self preservation over contribution. The problem is I’m just not wired that way. None of the heroes that we admire played it safe. The safe people aren't in our history books. 

Inspire Me

There are so many people in my life who inspire me. I'm never inspired by the people who play it safe, but by the people who gamble. Gamble is probably not the word I should use but it feels right. The people who inspire are people who are willing to do the things that I am not willing to do. They act as if they know something that I don't know. They push all their chips to the middle of the table as if they have a strait flush but they do it so often that I'm pretty sure they're bluffing. How can they be so careless? What do they know?

They don't know anything special. They've just chosen to do the thing that I have chosen not to do. They take a deep breath and jump. If they survive, and they usually do, they do it again. 

Fearless

Its easy to be fearless when you're safe. Fear only comes when you step out. I'm only afraid of heights when I'm climbing the mountain. I'm only afraid of the dark at night. I've met a lot of "fearless" people who never take risks. They are always willing to give advice about what they would do in your situation but they rarely do anything themselves.

Its easy to speak up when everyone agrees with you. Its easy to dance when you're alone.