Are You Scared?

"Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity Kitai. Do not misunderstand me, danger is very real, but fear is a choice." -Will Smith; After Earth (2013)

It seems as if I have been in the center of several situations within the last week. All of the situations contained a lack: a lack of communication, a lack of understanding, a lack of trust, and all of it caused a fearful decision. I've watched good people make fearful decisions and those decisions have caused pain, heartbreak, and so much more. Read the above quote.

Now I could say all of the normal things about fear, I could use my time isolated as an example of what fear does to an individual but why? Why discuss something that is clearly imagination's worst construct. That's the crazy part of it all, fear is as real as the dragon of your dreams and the killer clown of your nightmares. So why do we let it dictate our lives? Because we don't know...that's it.

We get into relationships having no clue if they're going to work out. We apply for jobs not knowing if it's going to be the job we want. We become parents not knowing how to be parents. Every aspect of our lives, from the time we learn how to walk to them to time we learn how to bury our loved ones is all unknown and our response to that is fear. Really think about that. Think about when you have done something wrong. Think about that sinking feeling in your chest. Think about being called into the principals office.

Because we don't know the outcome we choose fear over bravery.

We choose fear every single time and it leads us to breakup with our loved ones instead of having a simple conversation. We choose fear every time and it leads to divorce. We choose fear and it leads to words that shouldn't be spoken and then we wonder why our hearts feel shattered to pieces. There's never space for understanding and that should be our response to this imaginary ideal. Understanding should be our answer to racism, greed, hate, shame, etc, because where there is knowledge there is power and where there is power weak things like fear can't exist.

Everyday is an opportunity to answer fear with understanding. Everyday that the sun hits your face and the master of our universe allows you to take a breath is another day to be better. Fear isn't real beautiful one and if you can grasp that you'll not only be able to change your life, you'll also be able to change the lives of those around you.

So go out on that date. Take that trip. Quit that job. Text that person. Look at fear as the shadow it is and shed light on it. You were never given the spirit of fear, but you were given love, power, and a sound mind.

So keep your head up, be encouraged, and know that you are loved.