Fear is not harmful. The purpose of all feelings is to guide us in life according to our best, and fear is no exception … We will find fear that is as constructive and joyful feeling as any other feeling … appreciate it, since it tells us much about our relation to the world.
(Healing Eagle)

In a discussion recently with some friends on Facebook regarding the freedom one experiences when they face fears and overcome them, I was led to further self-inquiry on the issue of Fear. What I realized was how much Fear was as much a catalyst in my evolution of life, as any other emotion … maybe more.

In fact, I can look at Fear and, with the eyes that I view life with now, see a friend. Albeit, a dry-humored-kind-of-friend. You know, the kind of friend that after being in their presence, it takes you days before you realize that what they were conveying was more in jest than in criticism!

Not everything which is bad comes to hurt us.
(Italian Proverb)

For instance, my friend, “Fear,” fires up my obstinate nature and pushes me to face challenging situations; to take action. My friend, “Fear,” opens up the flood gates to allow tears of frustration, anxiety and stress to flow out, when I try to stuff more of same inside. My friend, “Fear,” reminds me I have choices. I can choose to move forward in life, through any obstacle, or I have a choice to fall back and sink in the quicksand of regret.

I must admit, for many years, I viewed Fear through negative eyes. In fact, I had grown to fear Fear. Whenever Fear appeared, I would try to run from it, deny it, suppress it, anything but face and acknowledge it. That is, until one day, I was so tired of eluding Fear, that I decided to sit with it. What I noticed was the more I acknowledged Fear, the less it would come to visit. In essence, fear seems to dissipate as fast as I accept it, inquire of its intention and purpose, and send it on its way.

Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out.
Karl Augustus Menninger

I know for certain Fear will come around again to visit. It is a friend I can count on to show up and keep me in check.