Is there anything more paralyzing and more difficult to acknowledge, than our fears?

We have specialized ourselves to hide our fears in such a way that, in order not to recognize them and admit their existence, we are able to fabricate every kind of strategy and excuse.

However, in spite of all our efforts and tricks we are able to invent, sometimes while looking at our reflection in a mirror, we glimpse something strange in our gaze – a sort of silent terror that arises from somewhere deep within us.

But this lasts only for a few moments –  when we are occupied, creating illusions to keep this feeling away from us.

And this is just the thing which we should ponder on: it’s not enough to hide or avoid our fears, such as it’s not enough to watch our favourite TV show, read the book we love or hide the feeling of fear (in every form it could arise), by going to a party. If our wish is to live a life free from every sort of conditioning, a fulfilling integral life, we should definitely free ourselves from fears.

Indeed, what’s the point to build beautiful castles in the sky (read: illusions) when their dungeons are inhabited by the imaginary monsters of our fears?

What’s the point to run away from society, take refuge in our house or on an isolated island or become excessively loquacious, expansive or aggressive to mask our embarrassment?  All these are ways to hide our fears and not ways to be released from them.

In order to free ourselves from the beast Fear, we should remain attentive and wait for it to show itself from its hideway and… look it in the eyes. Indeed, the moment a fear arises is the worse moment to run off or create diversions. Just remain still,quiet, and observe, without fight or without judgement. Simply observe and observe for a long time, not only a few moments. Maybe we’ll realize that the monster is only a phantom created by our imagination that tells us we are not accepted, we are not understood, we can’t handle it, and so on and so forth.

Often, only the act of remaining still and impartially observe a fear when it manifests itself, could be enough to make it disappear, such as the shadow after the sunrise.

Probably, these same fears will return from time to time, as habits are difficult to overcome and our imagination is a neverending story. But every victorious battle makes us stronger, more aware, freer, and the fear weaker.

So, we’ll be ready for another challenge.