I love this perspective! Rather than wasting energy trying to get rid of fear better return to answering the most important question “who am I?” It’s always about love, isn’t it.
Thank you for sharing your perspective, Grace! You nailed it, it's always about love. Fear is a reminder that we have strayed from our natural essence. Would love to hear more of your perspectives in the chat community :)
I will echo your words and say that yes, it is always about love... Love that we may have craved and not received when we were young, a child, a baby even... The absent love in all its expressions: the absent care, protection, security, truth, reassurance, fun will certainly increase what is already a human right: fear. Or parents who were full of fear themselves... So many causes, so many aspects! Love is the only answer, but when it has not been there, it takes much courage to face up to that fact in order to conquer then all our fears.
Thanks for sharing this perspective Christina! You're right, love may have been clouded for various reasons and it is a worthwhile endeavour to life the curtain to see it again.
I just love how you put it Niall. Going pale if we don't step into sunlight, but dealing with fear while being in the sunlight. I think I feared getting a tan all my life because I never wanted to know what would happen if I couldn't handle the light but I had to step out to see what was next. I am so grateful that it eventually turned into a positive learning experience for me. Beyond grateful that I could share my story via your Substack.
Thanks again for this lovely opportunity. It means so much to me!
Thanks again, Mansi! Keep continuing to do your thing. Now that you know the fear was an illusion holding you back, you'll never forget that if it comes around again.
I think about fear a LOT. For me, fear is one attribute of my Inner Critic--this part of me that has tried to protect me by holding me back, telling me not to take a risk, warning me of some perceived danger (usually rejection). So reading your article today reminded me to ask my Inner Critic to be quiet today, especially since I am feeling more and more vulnerable the closer I get to pitching my essays outside of Substack and querying agents, starting in January. Thank you, as always, for being such an encouraging voice here!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Jeannie!! You're right, the closer we get to something that matters intimately, the more that fear or inner critic can grow. I would go a step further than asking your critic to be quiet and instead ask it "where are you trying to direct me?" and you will find that it is trying to send you away from your intrinsic peaceful and loving nature. Let it guide you back to that place. This conversation is exactly why I started the chat feature, to support one another in exploring our true nature. Would love to see you over there :)
It’s always the fear that is getting the tan in my sunshine. And I need to take my sunshine back the moment it tries to snatch the chance. Or else. It will win over me. How I do that, by doing the things that I fear of. Wherever fear is I see the opportunity.
Thank you for sharing this intimate reflection, Shanjitha! The way forward is the way through. Your note tells me you have everything you need to thrive :) Reflections like this are exactly why I opened the community chat feature. Would love to follow your growth over there!
This single sentence is immensely powerful - "Nothing is holding you back in life more than the limiting and irrational false narratives formed from fear."
I love this perspective! Rather than wasting energy trying to get rid of fear better return to answering the most important question “who am I?” It’s always about love, isn’t it.
Thank you for sharing your perspective, Grace! You nailed it, it's always about love. Fear is a reminder that we have strayed from our natural essence. Would love to hear more of your perspectives in the chat community :)
I will echo your words and say that yes, it is always about love... Love that we may have craved and not received when we were young, a child, a baby even... The absent love in all its expressions: the absent care, protection, security, truth, reassurance, fun will certainly increase what is already a human right: fear. Or parents who were full of fear themselves... So many causes, so many aspects! Love is the only answer, but when it has not been there, it takes much courage to face up to that fact in order to conquer then all our fears.
Thanks for sharing this perspective Christina! You're right, love may have been clouded for various reasons and it is a worthwhile endeavour to life the curtain to see it again.
I just love how you put it Niall. Going pale if we don't step into sunlight, but dealing with fear while being in the sunlight. I think I feared getting a tan all my life because I never wanted to know what would happen if I couldn't handle the light but I had to step out to see what was next. I am so grateful that it eventually turned into a positive learning experience for me. Beyond grateful that I could share my story via your Substack.
Thanks again for this lovely opportunity. It means so much to me!
Wishing you the best always✨
Thanks again, Mansi! Keep continuing to do your thing. Now that you know the fear was an illusion holding you back, you'll never forget that if it comes around again.
What is fear to one who is guided by optimism?
I like the concept of fear sitting in our sunshine. My skin's not much of a fan of tanning, but we can't stay pale.
Don't get burned either lol. Thank you, Rasmus!
Hi Niall,
I think about fear a LOT. For me, fear is one attribute of my Inner Critic--this part of me that has tried to protect me by holding me back, telling me not to take a risk, warning me of some perceived danger (usually rejection). So reading your article today reminded me to ask my Inner Critic to be quiet today, especially since I am feeling more and more vulnerable the closer I get to pitching my essays outside of Substack and querying agents, starting in January. Thank you, as always, for being such an encouraging voice here!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Jeannie!! You're right, the closer we get to something that matters intimately, the more that fear or inner critic can grow. I would go a step further than asking your critic to be quiet and instead ask it "where are you trying to direct me?" and you will find that it is trying to send you away from your intrinsic peaceful and loving nature. Let it guide you back to that place. This conversation is exactly why I started the chat feature, to support one another in exploring our true nature. Would love to see you over there :)
It’s always the fear that is getting the tan in my sunshine. And I need to take my sunshine back the moment it tries to snatch the chance. Or else. It will win over me. How I do that, by doing the things that I fear of. Wherever fear is I see the opportunity.
Such a deep piece of insight.
Thank you for sharing this intimate reflection, Shanjitha! The way forward is the way through. Your note tells me you have everything you need to thrive :) Reflections like this are exactly why I opened the community chat feature. Would love to follow your growth over there!
This single sentence is immensely powerful - "Nothing is holding you back in life more than the limiting and irrational false narratives formed from fear."
Thank you for the reminder. 🙏
Thank you, Dawn!! That line is a note to self and it has had a powerful impact on my life. Keep living true to you :)
It's so good I made a meme from it. But I don't know how to share it here.
You can share it via chat or notes. Here's the chat link if you'd like to share it there: https://substack.com/chat/1832591