“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.”

For those that don’t know – I’m a pretty big nerd. One of my favorite books is a fantasy book called ‘Dune’ by Frank Herbert and in that book is the ‘Litany against fear’ above. As we all learn to navigate the changing world and circumstances around us, I believe that we could all win from creating a more intentional relationship with our fear.

Fear is going to be there. That’s life. Right now it’s a little bit more present than it might be usually for most of us. But after COVID19 is ‘over’ (whatever that means) and our lives start returning to a semblance of ‘normal’, fear is still going to show up.

When our fears control us is when we find ourselves in trouble. When our fear is what’s driving our thoughts and behaviors it builds a cycle that begets more fear.

What I love about the litany against fear is the line “I will permit it to pass over me and through me.” This is an incredibly powerful concept. To see the fear, and to let it pass through us. Not to fight against it, which gives it more power. Not to ignore it or pretend that it doesn’t exist, which allows it to ferment and grow.

Instead, we choose to permit it to pass through us; knowing that it will end and we will remain once it does.