How do we perceive the future? With fear and trepidation or joyful expectation? Maybe, our feelings fall somewhere in between. Or if we are evolved beings, we’ve learned to live in the present moment and not anticipate the future at all! But how do we perceive the unknown, the things outside our comfort zone?
How Do We Perceive The Unknown?
One of the best examples of the unknown is Covid-19. I remember watching in December 2019 the scary scenes is what seemed liked faraway Wuhan and not once thinking that it would effect us. What if we knew what we were really getting into when it started? How would we have responded? How much more toilet paper can people stock up! While it makes sense to have a certain amount of fear, and follow the rules of social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands, life has to go on. We cannot sit around merely keeping updated about the virus. Many of us, have used this time to be very creative and find new ways to improve ourselves.
Fear is a very real emotion that all of us experience. A healthy amount of fear keeps us safe. But we cannot let fear keep us from becoming the best version of ourselves.
What would you do, for instance, if you were asked to give a TED Talk? Would you embrace the opportunity with all you have? Or would back out because you have stage fear or an aversion to a large audience? If you back out, fear wins and you lose a chance to not just to be known by more people but score some points for your courage.
I love this passage by Gibran that is really about taking risks and daring greatly.
“It is said that before entering the sea, a river trembles with fear. She looks back at the path she has traveled, from the peaks of the mountains, the long winding road crossing forests and villages. And in front of her, she sees an ocean so vast, that to enter there seems nothing more than to disappear forever. But there is no other way. The river can not go back. Nobody can go back. To go back is impossible in existence. The river needs to take the risk of entering the ocean, because only then will fear disappear, because that’s where the river will know — it’s not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean.”
– Kahlil Gibran
How often has your fear of the unknown kept you from growing?
#Write28Days
I’m undertaking the #Write28Days Challenge and have been posting every day in February. Today is the last day and though it’s technically Sunday, I’m doing a #MondayMusing post.
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That quote by Khalil Gibran is so profoundly beautiful, Corinne! Straddling between fear and hope, between uncertainty and certainty, it seems so much has changed in me this past year that has totally rewired how I feel and respond to the future now.
Since you asked the question, let me say that I’d love to challenge myself and do something I’ve never done before. I most certainly wouldn’t let fear ruin it.
Esha recently posted..On Writing | #SoulfulSunday
Pondering the idea of entering and becoming the ocean over my morning tea. Happy March to you!
Michele Morin recently posted..What to Do When You Need a Helper
I love the Kalil Gibran quote. He has a beautiful way of putting it. Time travels in only one direction – forward. There is no going back. Wonderful post, Corinne!
Laurie recently posted..February Four Somethings
My husband describes me as “risk averse” and he’s right – I let fear rule me far more often than being brave and just doing it. Sometimes I step up, but more times I step back and play safe. I’m working on being more courageous – I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to do a TED talk – but I heard Brene Brown say she was petrified when she gave her first one – that whole being vulnerable thing gets us every time.
Leanne | http://www.crestingthehill.com.au recently posted..WHOLEHEARTED LIVING – CULTIVATING OUR “SELF”
2020 turned me into a nervous wreck tbh. I used to be a carefree girl but post covid I suffer from extreme anxiety before starting everything. Maybe the death of my brother-in-law was a contributing factor. I love this post because this actually calmed my anxious nerves a bit. Thanks to you dear for this post.
Love the quote! Yes, I have allowed the fear of making a mistake, failing, and not being good enough to stop me from making a job change. Thanks for making me take a good look at this situation today. Congrats on the #Write28Days challenge.
Suzette recently posted..Joyology 101: How Did the Meaning of Enabler Get So Turned Around?
I love Kahlil Gibran :). I do fear a lot of things, but I also have the ability to just jump right in when I should probably be fearful ;). I love that God promises to give us a spirit of confidence (2 Timothy 1:17).
There was a period when I was only driven by fear – fear in the present as well as fear of the future. Fear played a big role in the way I was raised. Every decision was marked by keeping fear in mind. And then when I began living alone, a few years ago, I worked on ‘living by fear’. I changed my thought pattern. I did not listen to those who were still in the business of showing the fearful side of my decision to me. I blocked out some physically and some in my head. Then covid came and fear became the mainstay for one full year. Has this fear vanished now? Maybe. Partially.