What am I afraid of?

facing inevitable discomfort

Lately, I’ve been asking myself this question almost daily.

I write on paper, “What are you afraid of?” And as I’ve been rewriting the same short list every day, I’m beginning to realize that the items on my list aren’t all that daunting — not really. They are not groundbreaking or extreme in any way.

The things I am afraid of are literally just normal things… that I happen to avoid. And when you avoid something long enough, it becomes way scarier then it actually is.

My new mentality is, maybe if I force myself to continuously confront my fears over and over (regardless of the outcome), maybe then I will finally overcome them.

And I’m pretty sure this plan is basically foolproof — other than the fact that I actually have to face my fears. But I see it as a challenge. A game. One that I will surely fail at, at least for a little while. If I go in with low expectations, I can tackle the start. Starting is usually the hardest part anyway.

And it’s important to acknowledge that when you do things you aren’t comfortable doing, you need to expect (and honestly welcome) DISCOMFORT.

Facing inevitable discomfort is one of the strongest and bravest things a person can do. And we are all afraid of different things, so it’s case-by-case. I should start asking my friends this question. I’m pretty curious what they would say.

The acceptance of the inevitable discomfort of facing my fears gives me a strange solace and a more-welcome attitude towards it. The acceptance of initial failure. The anticipation of the negative emotions and the acceptance that I will be uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable is okay. It is not the end of the world. And it is not permanent, usually.

Life isn’t about being comfortable all the time anyway. If you are comfortable all the time, maybe consider what you are avoiding.