Fear, Faith & Trust

"You can't be brave unless you're afraid. You can't have faith unless there is doubt." My current outlook on faith and trust is heavily impacted by doubt and fear. How can one have faith unless they experience doubt? Faith without doubt is just knowing. In the face of doubt, doesn't fear appear and threaten the stability in the experiencer?

I feel most people get caught in a cycle of fear and doubt and they pull themselves out of it with trust and faith. Can fear and doubt ever be a force of good? Can retreating to faith and trust ever be a crutch? Perhaps.

When faced with uncertainty or elements that threaten security, a strong reaction response is to shun the fear inducing element. To some, that requires strength and willpower, to stand up against the fear, against the perceived danger, and stand one's ground.

What about the frightened squirrel that yells at the outstretched hand offering foodstuffs?

What about the birds that scatter to the skies when fresh seed is thrown at their feet?

How does one assess fear and doubt as an opportunity for growth instead of a threat to safety? A threat to the status quo, a threat to mediocrity, a warning to stale patterns and old behaviors.

When does one choose to engage the fear instead of retreat from it? Can retreating to safety ever be the wrong choice? To the child learning to swim, the safety of the edges of the pool is exactly where they want to be. The diving board is too scary for them. Being in front of everyone is too much attention, with the only way out being an embarrassing retreat down the ladder, or a test of bravery and skill diving into the deep end.

As one who has learned to embrace most fears and take pleasure in the rush of allowing myself to be controlled by gravity as I plunge into the deep waters, I often have feelings of pity and even contempt for the ones clutching the sides of the pool.

I know in my heart I should show compassion to those gripped by fear, too afraid to change, to worried about how they are perceived, by themselves and by others. When put into conflicting situations with people gripped with fear of potential shame or perceived embarrassment I need to use that opportunity to grow myself as an individual.

I am not them, they are not me. Our paths our different and our experiences are different. I shall reserve my judgement on them and instead reflect on myself, and work to understand why their decision to retreat to faith and trust should impact my perception.

Calling someone a coward for clinging to the side of the pool doesn't improve my life. I have not helped anyone by focusing on their insecurities. I may have solved a puzzle that looks like their current puzzle, but I am not them and my life is not theirs.

Faith & Trust against Doubt & Fear

Moving forward, when someone doesn't share my courage I will not doubt their resolve. Their fear may be greater than mine, my cost may be lesser than theirs.