Fear
Fear
It’s a powerful thing
Fear
I have a lot of it, I think
From the tangible to the imaginary
Coward, scaredy-cat, pussy
It all comes back to fear
My biggest fear was one that I think all people have
The fear of other people seeing your own
I used to be afraid of people seeing my anxiety
I used to be afraid of strangers seeing me tense when they pass
I used to be afraid of people seeing me avoid horror movies
I used to be afraid of people seeing me shiver, shake, gasp, cry
I used to be afraid of people seeing me afraid
That’s the thing about fear
It makes you want to hide and scream all at once until it goes away
It never will
It’s a powerful thing
But the most powerful part of fear is the part where you overcome
I overcame slowly, at my own speed
I overcame with help from family and friends
I overcame by knowing my strengths
I overcame so I could help others overcome
I overcame because I knew in my heart I just wanted to say to them but more importantly to me:
Overcoming is not eliminating
Overcoming is not ignoring the fear
Overcoming is not the opposite of vulnerability
Overcoming is not a one-step solution
Overcoming is winning the fight against fear - and then offering it your hand.
Overcoming is inviting it back within you, but this time under your control
Overcoming is smiling when people ask you if you’re afraid because of course you are, but you know exactly how to handle it and it doesn’t make you any less of a person
Fear
Is a powerful thing
But so are we