One of my favorite new Doctor Who episodes is one called "Listen." There's an incredible speech about fear. The Doctor is helping out a young boy and he says fear is a superpower, because it gives you strength and speed and the will to survive. His point is that if we don't allow fear to control us, we discover it is actually a strength. Sure. Of course, we are afraid because of something awful and it's pretty hard to simply ignore that fact.
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| Look, it's Superman! |
Phobias are a kind of fear, but are apparently irrational. I'm not totally in agreement ... I mean, pickles are the work of the Devil himself! And, don't get me started on evil elevators--hint: they know where you are at all times and actively hate you. Maybe fear of heights isn't bad, but isn't everyone afraid of spiders? Eight legs is too many for any creature. Millipedes? I refuse to believe they exist.
It's been said that courage is facing up to your fears. That's very true. Battlefields are filled with courage, as are any large stressful environments. Courage also appears when threat of humiliation and dire consequences is possible. My personal heroes are firefighters. I can hardly imagine another group of people so willing to jump into burning buildings to save someone they don't know. It's amazing to watch them work.
So, yes, fear is powerful, but so is courage. May your will be strong and your feet fleet.
- M
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