“I Love my Fear”

Once in a while, I come across some things that lead me to reflect upon life and its many complexities. I stumbled upon this incredible post entitled “A Quote on Fear” and it struck me well enough to squeeze a few words out of this proud introvert.

The post includes this beautiful quote:

What do I fear?
I fear stagnation and lack of progress.
I fear never reaching my potential and being average.
I fear being forgotten… The past… Yesterday’s news.
I fear giving up and being passed by, going softly into that good night.
I fear letting those I love down, letting myself down.
I fear settling, giving in to the “that’s just the way it is” mindset.
I fear dying without leaving my mark.
I fear not feeling these fears anymore and just floating along.
These fears feed me, they nourish my drive.

I love my fear.

-Unknown

As I mentioned in the comment I left, I like how genuine the passage is. The fears described are real fears people face everyday. Admittedly, those fears include some of mine. I am extremely afraid to find out later in life that my existence had no meaning at all. I cannot leave this world without my epitaph saying something like “made a difference,” “lived an extraordinary life,” and most importantly, “loved with all of her heart.”

I also like how the author, Nick Langis, described fear as a powerful motivator. I usually think of fear as an enemy, as something you fight or suppress. I never really thought of it as a friend that helps you. This made me think long and hard about the times I was confronted by my fears and how I handled them. I realized that the moments when I dismissed my fears were the ones that just lead me to continue how I was living and doing things. I went on like nothing happened and nothing ever did. On the other hand, the moments when I owned my fears and really felt them lead me to create some extraordinary changes in my life. The result of those changes includes the most astonishing things from thrilling travels to a healthier lifestyle to this crazy colorful blog.

I have now found a deeper appreciation of my fears and how I can use them constructively. I can now say as the last line of the quote says, “I love my fear.”

*This is in response to Blogging University’s Writing 101, Day 8: Expand a comment