July 30, 2019
For me, fear is this huge, undefinable thing. At the drop of a hat, it causes a minor wave to grow inexplicably to a massive tsunami and gives the tiniest little thing the biggest of shadows. Goodness, that can be frightening!
What I’ve determined, though, is that while fear may try desperately to keep a choke hold on my life, I, and I alone, hold the power to remove the choke chain.
Have you ever ridden a wave? Whether body surfing, boogie boarding, or traditional surfing, you feel this insane surge and rush forward.
Sometimes in life, when these waves of fear appear, we may not realize that what we’re afraid of is the forward motion, the inevitability of change that we simply have no control over. The possibility that it could push us under, drag us along the bottom, or carry us all the way into shore--that possibility can grip us and hold us tight, so that we jump the waves or duck under them perpetually, to avoid the potential of change. Life is filled with changes, but they can be absolutely terrifying, even if the change is necessary and one of forward motion.
The thing is, if we continuously duck these waves of fear or jump them, we may never catch that thrilling ride in to shore. And riding a wave to shore is certainly far easier than fighting the current to get there. Sure, the wave may buffet us a bit, it may even send us dragging along the sand, but it’s still forward motion. It’s still us making progress, and no longer fearing the ride.
Fear is a perfectly natural part of life, and there are plenty of legitimate things to be afraid of. But if we let fear rule our lives, if it’s not a legitimate fear, we give that wave power over us. Rather than riding it, it can overpower us.
I, for one, would far rather catch the wave than allow it to overpower me. Should we be dragged along the bottom, we may perhaps find a perfect shell that we would never have laid hands on otherwise. Perhaps these waves of fear can be harnessed and ridden, just as waves in the ocean. They can become the fuel for the forge, the impetus for us to move forward, rather than staying in one place, continuously ducking and jumping.
So. The next time a fear tsunami overtakes me, I will try to catch that wave and ride it for dear life, and I hope that this may help you do the same.
Happy Trails,
-Rebecca Christine
A note from the guest author: I am so grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts with those willing to read them. I find it helpful to write on occasion, especially when my life appears to be descending into chaos. I operate under the assumption that there is no possible way that I am the only person dealing with some of the things I struggle with and I hope that my posts, though they may be few and far between help even just one person to perhaps get a slightly different perspective or reach a space of peace.