There was once a young warrior and her teacher told her she must do battle with fear. She didn’t wish to, she was scared – fear had big influence in the area. But her teacher prepared her as best she could.
The day of battle arrived, the student warrior stood on one side, fear stood on the other. The student felt very small, fear looked big and powerful. Had not fear had attacked her household for years?
But the student gathered herself and walked towards fear. She bowed three times.
‘May I have permission to do battle with you?’ she asked.
Fear appreciated the respect shown. ‘Thank you for showing respect.’
‘So, how do I defeat you?’ asked the young warrior.
Fear laughed at the cheek of it – but liked her spirit. Why not tell her? She probably won’t listen.
‘My weapons,’ said fear, ‘are that I talk fast and I get close to your face. You become unnerved, panic and do whatever I say. And soon I’m the one making your plans! But here’s the thing – if you don’t do what I say, I have no power.’
‘Really?’ says the young warrior. ‘I hadn’t thought of that.’
‘So you can listen to me,’ says fear, ‘be disturbed by me even – but if you don’t do what I say, I have no power.’
Fear was getting cocky now. He always won so who cares?
But the student listened and learned. Fear talked fast in the battle and in her face. She was unnerved and moved to panic – but did not do what fear said.
And in a while, as time passed, the fast and threatening talk of fear only unnerved her briefly, and the panic and disturbance lessened. She took fear’s clammy hand off her life and plans.
When she senses fear arising, she knows what to do: pause, name the particular fear, understand its origins…but knowing always she does not have to obey it now.
She remembered fear’s words: ‘If you don’t do what I say, I have no power.’
