Our deepest fears are like dragons guarding our deepest treasures.
RAINER MARIA RILKE
When you look into the mirror, what do you see?
Do you see the reflection staring back at you or do you see what you wish was the reflection staring back at you.
John Lennon once said, “It’s easier to shout “Revolution” or “Power To The People” than it is to look at yourself and find out what’s real inside you and what isn’t when you’re pulling the wool over your own eyes.” We are all subject to self delusion. Even when you are one of the most successful, prolific songwriters in history. There is the truth and there is also the truth we wish was the truth. It is a natural occurrence.
So what separates the two?
I believe it is a desire to really dig deep within and see the true flaws about ourselves as fundamental issues that are as plain as the features on our face. But often times, we are so much more comfortable becoming who we wish we are (or pretending to be) than it is to dig past the obvious veneer and drill down to our core being. The one that is not so pretty, has plenty of flaws, fears, insecurities, and unfulfilled desires.
This persona is whom we are at our essence. It is needy, nervous, cautious and less willing to go out on a limb than we might first imagine. It directs our actions, regardless of any bravado we might conjure at the exterior level. It guards our opportunity with a keen eye for all that could go wrong, and many times suppresses our efforts before they ever hatch into a plan of action.
If we completely shirk these fears, we are many times setting ourselves up for the largest of failures. Yet, the ones who have ultimately succeeded in life are those who were most adept at seeing those issues for what they are and summoning the deepest courage to accelerate past those fears and into a realm of self-induced bravado that will prevail above all else.
Finding a balance between acting with caution and breaking out of our comfort zone appears to be the most winning solution. Somewhere in that gray zone lies a pathway that will enable us to go beyond anything we have attempted previously while simultaneously maintaining just enough caution to prevent a complete and total meltdown.
Fear maybe guarding your deepest treasures, but if we value those treasures as the rarity that they are, then it is up to us to conquer that fear and prevail at all costs…. Lest we allow our best efforts to never see the light of day.
And that would be truly criminal.
Happy Tuesday!
