Skip to main content

Intimacy with Fear!

 

“Nothing is what we thought. Emptiness is not what we thought. Neither is mindfulness or fear. Compassion – not what we thought. Love. Buddha nature. Courage These are code words for things we don’t know in our minds but any of us could experience them. These are words that point to what life is when we let things fall apart and let ourselves be nailed to the present moment.”

 

Fear is a natural reaction when we move closer to the truth.

 

No one tells us to stop running away from fear. It’s sometimes close and sometimes far, but it is always there lurking somewhere in the background. Fear can even come very close but the only advice we are ever given is to sweeten it up, smooth it over, take a pill or distract ourselves but by all means make it go away.

 

The intimacy of fear can never be predicted but the certainty of fear is always present.

It could be as small as the fear of a spider. We may look at the spider in the eyes and have all the emotions of fear, anger, gloom, etc. overwhelm us in the moment, but that moment too passes and before you know it, the spider has vanished (moved along). Such is fear; fear, it comes and it will look at you straight in the eye until you are scared silly. Sometimes the fear is too close and we become too familiar with it. It is a bit after that when the fear subsides.

 

However, sometimes we are cornered and we have no place to run. There’s nowhere to hide and no way to make fear look ‘pretty’. Fear introduces us to courage – the ability to look at what we fear in the eye with great strength. Being intimate with fear is just the beginning for us to encounter our bravery and ability to act heroically. It is the ability to be a coward that makes us so heroic!

 

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." ― Nelson Mandela


"Courage to me is doing something daring, no matter how afraid, insecure, intimidated, alone, unworthy, incapable, ridiculed or whatever other paralyzing emotion you might feel. Courage is taking action….no matter what. So you're afraid? Be afraid. Be scared silly to the point you're trembling and nauseous, but do it anyway!" ― Richelle E. Goodrich

 

   

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Karina Pandya in Conversation with Co-Founder of the Banyan, Dr. Vandana Gopikumar

An incident of coming across a homeless and mentally ill woman in distress on the road in front of her college in Chennai paved the route for Vandana Gopikumar to establish one of the leading NGOs in the field of mental health – The Banyan. While she was yet a Master’s student of Social Work, Vandana along with a close friend Vaishnavi Jayakumar encountered several other incidents of not being able to find the right shelter and mental institution for a woman in need of medical and psychiatric attention.     The Banyan, which was established in 1993 has been a one-stop destination to not only rescue, and rehabilitate but also treat mentally ill women from low-income groups. Vandana Gopikumar has pioneered a movement, helping thousands of individuals not only reintegrate into society but also secure long-term medical treatment.    Not only is she the co-founder of the NGO – The Banyan, but is also the co-founder of The Banyan Academy of Leadership (BALM). She is also a...

4 Mindfully Spent Days At Woods At Sasan for a Writing Retreat with Bhavna Kher

Writing has been my passion for over 18 years so when I heard about the Writing Retreat that screenwriter, brand consultant and former creative director of Ogilvy - Bhavna Kher was going to conduct I was immediately interested in attending the same.     Not only this but I also wanted to connect with other writers and also sharpen my writing skills as well. It was a perfect opportunity to find inspiration within a focused environment.  Moreover, the 4-day writing retreat, (September 14- September 18th) which was conducted at a luxury boutique resort provided the perfect break from city life, and mindfully focused on sharpening one’s writing skills.  Having our independent quarters, we were surrounded by thickets of trees, within a lush mango orchard on the fringes of the Sasan Gir forest. It was the perfect place to calmly create a story without any disturbances. Moreover, in between the writing exercises, we went for a safari, and eco-trail, and were given besp...

Pema Wellness Resort In Vishakhapatnam With An Infinity Pool Overlooking The Sea Can Be Your Ultimate Luxury Escape!

Overlooking the Bay of Bengal and the Eastern Ghats on the other side, 3km from the lively and beautiful Rushikonda Beach is the tranquil Pema resort, spread over 28 acres on Healing Hill, Beach Road, Vizag.  This Healing hub is 100,000 Sq. ft with 20,000 sq. ft therapy rooms a luxurious and spacious restaurant, and a 7000 Sq. ft fitness & therapeutic Yoga studio, enclosed with a blissful scenic beauty of nature.   Aiming at incorporating a healthy lifestyle, Pema Wellness Resort is a one-stop solution for those who are seeking a break from the hustle-bustle of fast-paced city life.  Boasting luxurious décor and high-raised ceilings, there are different rooms to choose from; executive, luxury, premium and suites. Besides this, there are 5 cottages. Every room comes with a breathtaking view.  Incorporating holistic lifestyle wellness solutions through ancient practices such as Yoga, Meditation, Naturopathy, therapeutic nutrition and other healing practices there a...