Sunday, February 26, 2012

Emotional growth

Ever have one of those moments when you can feel an emotional growth spurt within you so strongly that it's as though something is actually coursing through your bones and forcing you to expand? It's painful, sometimes excruciatingly so, but afterwards there's just exhaustion and, of course, tearful gratitude. Then, things are never the same again. Okay, life, what's next? I'm ready.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Longing for fearlessness

Recently, I have been challenging myself to face some deeper fears that I possess. I have felt such determination to conquer them, yet I am finding that, as always, it is not easy. Time and again, I go back to the questions, "Why not live fearlessly? What am I really risking if I walk through these fears? What is the worst that could happen?"

Indeed, in pondering these questions, what is the worst that could happen? Would I find myself alone? No, I don't think so. Death? Well, as my father has reminded me at various times, "No one gets out of here alive." Will people not like me? Will people be upset with me? Perhaps, but then what does that mean? Maybe those people shouldn't be in my life anyway. Will I fail or make a mistake? Possibly, but then what does that mean? At least I tried and had an experience. Will I feel pain? It is painful to be hindered by the fear anyway, so better that the pain come from courage than from hiding out in safety. 

In all of the ways there is to look at fear, what always comes to the surface is that it is better to walk through it than to succumb to it. May I be a bit braver with each passing day. May I remember that there really is nothing to fear.