Conquering Fear: Touch A Big Bug

This thrills me to the tips of my toes.

I can just picture this little girl in that precious moment between trepidation and courage. Tentatively outstretching her hand, resolved yet not entirely confident. Wide-eyed and braced for sudden horror.

Briefly hovering over the insect in front of her, then…

Contact! The exhilarating moment when she discovers that the thing she’s so afraid of is actually pretty harmless. The joy, the sense of accomplishment. The thrill of self-confidence and self-respect. Satisfaction.

And then, the moment has gone. No need to make a big production out of it. No attachment.

She calmly walks away, on to the next adventure, with one less fear and a whole lot more self-esteem.

Action Heals The Fear

I’m inspired by this, too. Because this is how fear is actually transformed.

I can talk about my fears till I’m blue in the face. I can pretend they’re big enough to hold me back. But until I reach out and touch that bug, it’s always going to be an intimidating, and usually untrue, story that I’ve made up in my mind.

All it takes is willingness to be present with the fear, to befriend it, to respect that it’s there and challenge it at the same time.

Fear is just a feeling. If I give it power by perceiving it as a big, bad, scary monster, I cower. What a lesson from this little girl that I can choose to conquer my fear by embracing it head-on, by reaching out and touching it.  Just show up and do it.

Because inner demons aren’t nearly as ugly or scary when light is shining on them.

So… what is going to be my next “big bug”?

What will be yours?