Bits of Wisdom Podcast #31

“Our fears are always more numerous than our dangers.” Seneca the YoungerI’ve been shot at, had to take cover because of incoming missiles, been jumped by thugs, and I’ve gotten into a fair share of fights. These were the times I’ve been in danger. If I count these and a few others, they’d be limited to less than a few dozen; however, if I tried to count the times I’ve experienced fear, they would be innumerable. It helps to understand the difference between our dangers and our fears. The fears we face are usually psychological constructs we’ve developed for some reason, and many of them are irrational. Knowing this, we can begin to recognize a fear for what it is—often a red flag—that can be noticed and dismissed. If we can find patterns in our fears, we can deal with them and sometimes rid ourselves of the irrational ones altogether. Start by listing the times you’ve been in danger on a sheet of paper, then list your fears next to them. We can take this a step further and list the things we’ve held ourselves back from due to our fears. We often fear failure, judgment, and embarrassment the most. Think back to some common recurring dreams, and we might notice many include public humiliation. Why is understanding the difference between fear and danger so important? Because we often allow fear, not danger, to keep us from our true potential. So remember, our fears are always more numerous than our dangers.Terry Weaver is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit terryweaver.substack.com/subscribe