Fear is the mind-killer
One of my favorite books which I strongly recommend ( to Sci-Fi fans and not fans also ) is “Dune” by Frank Herbert. All books touch us in different ways (as many ways as people and books) and leave as a mark, a feeling or at least a phrase. While reading Dune, long time ago, I read something that still today I recite myself as a mantra.
“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.”
It taught me not to avoid fear, not to crash against it, not to walk away from it. I learned to face the things I’m afraid of, letting them be a part of me, search for its essence, understand it and, in consequence, stop being afraid.
We are afraid of the unknown, that’s why knowledge is the best weapon we can hold against fear. Being brave it’s not about not having fear, it means keep on going when we are afraid.
