Fear costs but hope is free.
Fear prevents us from being who we are meant to be. It has a tendency to increase the gap between where we are and where we want to be. It can prevent us from stepping out of our comfort zone because we fear we won’t live up to others’ expectations. It can prevent us from stepping forward because we fear appearing different to others. It can prevent us from carrying out a project we had planned or starting a new relationship and it can get in the way of change … these fears become the obstacles that prevent us from achieving the things we dream about.
By replacing that ‘fear of the unknown’ with curiosity we open ourselves up to many possibilities, one of the most important being hope.
And what is hope? Hope helps us create a positive attitude when we look for the outcome of an event or circumstance, and it can build confidence, excitement and anticipation. Linking hope to a goal we have set, combined with a clear plan for reaching that goal, can create new and exciting possibilities.
I remember when I felt my next step in life was to go overseas and take part in a course for some months. I was fearful because I didn’t have enough money to last the whole time I intended to be away. At one point I nearly didn’t go because of this fear. Then I confronted it and stepped out into what I could do, and the wonderful part of it was that it opened new doors I couldn’t see when I had been stuck in my fear.
So if fear is nothing more than an obstacle that stands in the way of our progress and we choose to push past that obstacle, then we give ourselves the space for hope to grow, and in doing so, we move forward as a stronger and wiser person.
I truly believe that our desire to live a meaningful life is stronger than our fears. Being the best version of ourselves is always a choice.
There is a quote from Karen Marie Moning that says: “There are only two positions one can take toward anything in life – hope or fear. Hope strengthens, fear kills”. So which position do you consciously choose to take as you move forward?
