Fear

One of the recurring themes in my books is fear, and how fear holds us back from living our best lives.  Many of my characters struggle to take a step towards a better life, because fear is holding them back.  Fear of failure is real.  Fear of the unknown is real.  Fear of losing the familiar is real.

One of the hardest truths about fear is that it is not processed in the rational portion of the brain.  Fear is purely emotional.  This makes it very easy for fear to be used to manipulate people.  It makes it easy for us to convince ourselves to not make changes that would be good for us.  Because no amount of logical information will quiet the emotions that fear evokes.  So what can we do?

I make it easier for my characters to get past their fears by providing a supportive community where they can discuss their fears, and be supported in making changes with the knowledge their friends and family will be with them to support them no matter what the outcome.

We can all do that for each other.  We can be that supportive community.  We can share our fears with our circle of support.  It can be very hard to admit to fear.  It can be easy to just put your head down and live every day like the day before.  And if you are happy in that space, good for you.

But if you know that fear is holding you back, you can tell people about it.  You can ask for help and support as you try to make changes despite your fears.

A life lived fully will also be full of scary moments.  Of moments where you let go of the known, and venture into the unknown.  If you allow yourself to hold on to your support crew as you step into the unknown, the journey is much easier.

I hope that you have that warm circle of support that my characters have.  And if you do not, I hope you can reach past whatever barriers have prevented you from finding that circle, and find it now.

I know how scary it can be to share your vulnerability with others.  Honest and real connections with others always include allowing ourselves to be vulnerable.    For me, sharing my vulnerability has been greatly rewarded with deep and abiding relationships.  All of them so very worth getting past the fear to forge them.