Fear is the Mind Killer

Fear is an interesting concept. It keeps us from our path. We fear being alone, different, odd or disconnected from the rest of humanity. Life is full of fear. Our parents instill it in us from the moment of our birth.

I hate being afraid. It is unproductive; it holds me back and keeps me from fulfilling the covenants I made before I enter this plain of existence. The Bene Gesserit Litany against Fear from the Dune novels by Frank Herbert resonates with me:

“Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. 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." Bene Gesserit Litany against Fear

I believe in facing my fears, head on, no holds barred. I’ve done things I should have been afraid of but at the time I was experiencing that “20 seconds of insane courage” which comes at the most amazing moments. Miracles and magic happen in those seconds. I forgot where I was and who I was and why I should be afraid and went ahead and did it anyway. Great things happened when I was unafraid.

So why am I so afraid to face who I am supposed to be and why have I stop having those “20 seconds of insane courage”?