Facing Fears

Eighty Seconds of Development

There have been times in my life where facing fears has been difficult. I am mortified to admit this, but I was afraid of my shadow as a kid. I would walk by a light pole at night, see my shadow, and immediately think I was followed. I would sprint or walk in a different direction, but often, I could not shake my shadow. My siblings criticized me and had the time of their lives, making jokes about me and fearing my shadow. However, as a parent now, I am still afraid of my shadow. Not the one that reflects light but the literal shadow that mimics everything I perform, similar to my shadow reflection, my kids.
Raising kids is difficult. I have fears and questions: am I developing my shadow for success? What are some things that I can do to help my kids succeed? I fear whether I am doing the right thing to prepare my shadow for a successful life. But, just as Susan David, the author of Emotional Agility, courage is not the absence of fear; courage is fear walking. So, as I know that fear is inevitable, as a parent, I allow courage to be the driving force, knowing that fear is still there. I embrace the shadow from the result of a light reflection that scared me as a kid to now; the light that reflects me that my kids will have an everlasting impact on society.
Similarly, at work, we had shadows. Our colleagues and mentees follow us like the light reflection and my kids. There may be fear that we are not good enough to be shadowed. There may be doubt about the direction in which to lead your shadow. No matter the circumstance, know that you are prepared. The time is now to have courage and walk with fear. Allow courage to be the driving force, knowing that fear is imminent but not the zenith. That belongs to your courage.

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