The Crippling Power of Fear

So this year in school I'm taking an AP English Literature Class, and I was a little nervous to take it but I'm so glad that I am. I love the class because our teacher makes it so much more than just about getting the grade. Everything applies to our everyday lives. Right now we are in book groups reading a bunch of classics. The book that I'm reading for my book club is The Lord of the Flies. And to be completely honest, I thought I was going to absolutely hate it. I haven't read many classics, but most people say they are hard to understand and boring, so my expectations were not high haha. But we are about half way through the book, and I love it! And as I was reading the other day, I came across this line: "The thing is- fear can't hurt you any more than a dream". And I stopped, and re read it a few more times because it really stood out to me. And it made me start to think about how often I let fear overtake and control me. Being a Senior in high school means planning for a future. I'm only 17 and I have to make big decisions and I'm faced with so many choices, and that scares me out of my mind. And sometimes my hopes and dreams can seem too far away, and the fear of failure convinces me to play safe with my future. Sometimes the fear of making mistakes and the fear of failing can stop you from pursuing dreams. But the message that the quote tells us, is that fear is no more than perception. Fear can not cripple you if you don't give it the power to. I remember another quote, I don't remember where it came from, but it says: "Monsters don't make the fear, the fear makes the monsters." It's time we stop personifying fear. And this is definitely easier said than done, but I think the first step in the process is just understanding fear. Next time you are faced with fear and it feels overwhelming, and maybe you can hear it telling you that you can't reach your dreams, and that you will never figure things out, just recognize that you are a strong human with a body and soul, and fear is inanimate. And to end with one last quote (I'm obsessed with quotes, can you tell haha) "It all begins and ends in your mind. What you give power to, has power over you. If you allow it." The power is in your hands. Don't let fear stop you from dreaming and doing big!