I mourn for doomers. The term caught me by surprise last week when I heard it in a TED talk. When I realized what the speaker had said, though, after backtracking once, I was in awe. Imagine existing in such a perpetual fear state that you basically stop living your life. You constantly worry and fear for all of the possible doom and gloom. It is such a depressing and upsetting way to move through life. I would even argue you are not moving through life at that point; you are simply allowing life to move all around you while you continue to recoil deeper and deeper into this sad state of fear. Coincidentally, you can soon guess what I excitedly experienced for the first time ever this past weekend:
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little death that brings obliteration.
I will face my fear and I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past… I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
-Lady Jessica Atreides
Does your curiosity remain? Why not question more possibilities? Can you consider additional options? Maybe doom will happen, or maybe we will all bloom instead. It boils down to our choices and how curiously we choose to move forward. Should we assume it is all in vain or for naught? No! The third guardrail states no negative assumptions.
Face your fear, slowly but surely. You do not need to tackle it all at once. Instead, you can gradually start to swing that pendulum towards a more balanced, even-keeled position.
Here is one more story for now from my past weekend. As I left the garage one morning, I noticed cobwebs amidst some of the items stored out there. As I began clearing them some, I noticed a spider. This spider was a bit bigger with a bulb-like back. Y’all, please understand that spiders are one of my top fears. I do not know where along the way I gained that phobia, but I have been working on facing that fear this year. Rather than quickly overreacting and killing this small, mostly-defenseless creature, I pulled out my phone and researched it. I am now fairly certain that there is a cool-looking cobweb spider living out in the garage. Do you know what this spider hunts? Recluse spiders. This spider may actually help protect me from one of the few spiders that I should be more careful around. How cool is that? By being curious, I learned more and allowed this arachnid to cohabit the garage space with me. I think it is so cool. I am excited to continue exploring opportunities like this; I am eager to flex more curiosity when and where I can.
In doing so in that moment in the garage, do you know what I suddenly remembered? Charlotte’s Web. Not all spiders are portrayed as the evil villain. It is their common role, sure, but Charlotte is a definite exception. I felt such peace in that moment as I felt the fear dissipate, at least some. I do not think I am fully rid of that fear yet, but it is such a nice reminder for me to consider each thing individually. While I doubt this cobweb spider will be weaving messages in webs, I am thankful for our peaceful coexistence. I am grateful for what that pause and moment of curiosity has now allowed in my life.
Feed your mind with curiosity; do not starve it with fear.
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell. Stay curious, y’all :) <3