Fear Factor

Fear.

It's a strange thing,

Presenting itself at the most unfortunate of times.

It is a cold entity that haunts our dreams and ambitions,

Pushing us back into the void of our own minds, and blurring our vision.

Fear.

It's a terrible thing,

Preying on the struggles of humanity.

It lingers in the shadows of our past mistakes

And makes us doubt all that we know, like a constant mental debate.

Fear.

It's a personal thing,

Penetrating the lives of each and every one of us.

Creating in each, a false sense of security.

It steals our happiness and replaces it with loneliness.

Fear, is real.

And what's worse,

Is that we are taught to not be afraid.

We are told to bury our emotions so that we can achieve success.

We are forced-fed these corporate lies that tell us that fear is fake,

That our emotions are nothing but blinders that distract us from the truth.

We are taught to welcome adversity and to be open-minded,

But so many of us are just afraid

We are so fearful of rejection that we become captives to our own uncertainties.

We are told that we have to be strong, and that we mustn't fear failure

Because it is just another road to success.

But how can we be expected to control our own demons

When the ones we are supposed to look to for direction and instruction,

Our own parents and teachers,

All struggle with their own worries and anxieties?

The point here, is that we all fear something.

Maybe it's a fear of the future,

Or maybe you're worried about what others think about you.

It could be that you are anxious about your relationship

Or perhaps you just dread the thought of being alone.

I will even be the first one to admit to you that I'm afraid.

I'm afraid that I won't be smart enough

to solve all the world's problems

I'm afraid that I won't be loud enough

to convey the true value of every young man,

And the pricelessness of every woman.

I'm afraid I can't be bold enough

to stand up for what I know in my heart to be right.

I'm afraid that I can't be there enough

for the people in my life that need me

And that I'm not strong enough

to help carry them through each day

I'm afraid that I won't be good enough

to live up to the expectations of others

But most of all, I am afraid, because deep down,

I know that, no matter how hard I try,

I can never be enough.

But you want to know what the amazing part is?

It's okay...

It's okay that I'm not yet smart enough,

Because it'll push me to study harder

It's okay that I'm not yet loud enough,

Because I know that even a quiet voice

can speak to someone's heart.

It's okay that I'm not yet bold enough,

Because It'll push me to find my own voice

It's okay that I'm not there enough,

or strong enough, or good enough,

... Because there is always tomorrow.

You see I've learned that fear isn't something to be afraid of,

But that it can instead be the motivation that drives you to

exceed the limits that you have set for yourself.

I used to fear tomorrow,

Because I didn't know what was coming,

But now, I gain solace in knowing that

I can always become better than I once was

And I challenge you to do the same.