Stop Running from Fear
Can our most primal emotion actually help us build a more meaningful life?
For those of us who have been spared from the worst inclinations of human behavior, fear is often seen as a hidden adversary we need to conquer. An obstacle. A hurdle we must overcome in the pursuit of our dreams.
We are urged to adopt a metaphorical armor of courage and charge head-first into the hostile territories of our fears.
We must defeat.
We must conquer.
We must overcome.
And we love our heroes from the messy battles of real life — the people who inspire us, the ones who face their fears head-on with a relentless spirit and somehow find a way to come out stronger.
Fear, at its core, is something we’ve inherited to stay alive. It’s hardwired into our very being, like a warning bell that goes off inside us. And without it, we’d be in a lot of trouble.
We need fear.
We know that real threats to our survival aren’t mere relics of the past either. For millions across the world today, the daily threat of violence, displacement, and loss is a harsh and enduring reality. In places ravaged by war, people live with a constant fear of bombings, conflict, and just trying to stay alive.
Marginalized communities and racial minorities face tangible threats, not as an abstract concept but as an insidious force ingrained in their daily lives. Systemic racism, police brutality, and the persistent fear of being targeted solely based on their identity is a very real danger.
Fear is a given. Vigilance is a necessity.
Nothing about the relentless battles they face is abstract or metaphorical.
Yet, fear exists on a spectrum. It lives within all of us, independent of our circumstances.
It doesn’t always manifest through immediate dangers. For those of us who don’t face harm or violence, it still acts as a persistent force shaping our decisions and actions. It can manifest as a menacing power that casts doubt on our every step. It taunts us with its lies. And places psychological obstacles in front of our dreams and aspirations.
The fear of the unknown, the fear of failure, the fear of judgment — these are not harmless musings; or the solitary domain of the weak-willed. They are potent reflections of our shared humanity and the innate vulnerabilities we face when we are up against obstacles.
Whether it’s a real danger or something we just imagine, fear can be incredibly powerful.
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” — H.P. Lovecraft
Even when our physical safety isn’t at risk, this survival instinct is still hard-wired into our biology. The threats we face may be less obvious, but we need to consider that fear can have a very real impact on our mental and emotional well-being.
Instead of putting ourselves or others down for being fearful, we should work to better understand the complex nature of fear — both for ourselves and others.
Telling people to just get over their fears isn’t helpful. Telling people to just push through doesn’t work.
When we brush off someone’s fears, we’re ignoring the complicated mix of personal experiences, what’s going on around them, and even how their bodies work. All of these things contribute to the very real experiences they face.
When we understand these complexities, we can build more compassionate and empathetic communities. By talking about our fears openly, we can encourage collective resilience without reinforcing harmful stigmas associated with a perceived lack of courage.
It’s time to flip the script.
You are not alone.
It’s ok to be afraid.
We all are.
Fear is part of the human experience. And when we think of fear as an adversary that we must conquer, it becomes an unwanted intruder.
It is an enemy we must fight against rather than embrace.
It’s something that must be avoided rather than understood.
What if we stop looking at fear as something we need to fight against, and instead we welcome it and see it as essential to our journey?
What if we stop trying to ignore it or push it down, but we see it as an advantage?
Instead of just accepting it, what if we invite it in?
As a guide. A map. Directing us on the path of growth and self-discovery.
Fear, rather than an obstacle, becomes a companion on the path of self-discovery and growth, inviting us to explore its nuances and unravel its truth.
Let’s shift the focus from fighting through fear to understanding and coexisting with it.
This shift invites a more nuanced perspective, acknowledging that courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to sit with it and experience it.
When we start looking at fear as a messenger rather than an intruder, things change.
It removes the shame. It removes the stigma.
Fear isn’t a limitation — an invitation to dig into the uncomfortable parts of who we are.
It becomes a compass pointing us to the dark corners of our own minds, urging us to open the door and see what’s behind it.
We need fear.
It’s our hidden superpower.
What’s it telling you right now?
