There’s Truth in Fiction

I love reading blogs .. and following blogs.  Sometimes I think I like following them more than reading them, but you get some of the most interesting things from random blogs.

Pagan Dad just started running a series of posts that I find quite interesting.  In his most recent post he talks about confidence that one gets from fear.

I must not fear.

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.

This poem is recited in the book as an individual needs to face his or her fear.

The poem also reminds me of the Mark Twain quote:

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear”

Fear is a thing which drives us forward.  If we weren’t afraid of something, it would be a lot easier to stagnate.  Many people do things because of fear .. fear of losing their house or possessions or loved ones; fear of what other people think; fear of what happens if the work of high magic goes wrong!

Fear makes us pay attention, helps to push us forward, makes us care.  If we had nothing to fear, nothing to lose, many things would be left undone.

The key is, as the quotes above illustrate, not to be ruled by fear, but to recognize it, face it, and use it to forge ourselves into what we truly are.