Facing 5 Fears

Fear can quietly undermine our ability to be present—and block our path to progress.

Over the years, I’ve found there are five truths that help bring me back to center. They remind me to witness the emotions that arise during life’s storms, and in doing so, they help me see with greater clarity.

These are my five truths and the fears underlying them…

1. I am of the nature to grow old.

So many of us fear the natural process of aging. But aging can be graceful, vital, and wise. It can be a time of strength, clarity, and powerful transformation.

There is no escaping the passage of time. But if we learn to embrace it, we can uncover the beauty and depth it brings.

2. I am of the nature to have/experience ill health.

I’ve had a holistic focus on health throughout my adolescence and adult life. I used to believe that if I did everything “right,” I could somehow avoid sickness.

But why would I try to escape it—unless I was afraid of what it represented? Pain, discomfort, disruption...

The truth is, I’m of the nature to have pain, illness, discomfort, and intensity at times. But that doesn’t define me. More importantly is the why behind my actions. Am I making healthy choices out of fear of pain and illness, or in the desire to become my best self?

When we care for ourselves intentionally, our bodies respond with resilience—and we can find peace in this truth.

3. I am of the nature to die.

This life has a beginning and an end. What matters is how we choose to live in the meantime.

There’s a line in The Shawshank Redemption that comes to mind: 

“Get busy living, or get busy dying.”

Life is a gift. We can choose to treat it that way—every single day.

4. All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change and there is no way to escape being separated from them.

This one can feel especially hard. 

We fear losing the people we love and the people who have made a difference in our lives, but the truth is people will move in and out of our lives with a purpose that is often beyond our ability to see in the moment. 

We can choose to honor the changes in our lives and step back to observe them as gifts, even when they are painful. We can embrace the value in those relationships and hold fast to the memories and lessons that came from them

5. I inherit the results of my acts of body, speech and mind. My actions are my continuation.

The choices I make—what I say, how I think, how I act—are shaping my internal chemistry and reality.

We often forget how much power we have and the importance of taking responsibility for that power and the choices and actions that come from them. 

Our choices ripple outward—and inward. They affect our health, our emotions, our hormones, and our mindset. The key is to recognize our humanness without attaching to the fear patterns that come with it. We can slowly let go and release ourselves from old, repetitive loops.

Ultimately, letting go is what sets us free. It opens the door to our creativity, vitality, and the life we long to live.

The Moral of the Story

Try supporting your best self by recognizing the fears that quietly undermine you—the ones that keep your gifts and talents small.

You are not your fear. And you are not stuck.

As always, feel free to reach out with questions and reflections. I’m here for you.