𝙾𝚗 𝙵𝚎𝚊𝚛 (𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙼𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜)

When I was a little girl, I was convinced that there was a monster hiding under my bed.
It had long arms and lived in a dungeon under my bed. I believed that the monster wanted to grab me by the ankles and with one strong tug pull me under my bed into the dungeon where I would be lost forever. The fear of this creature that I never saw or heard was so real. Every night I’d get a running start and I’d take a flying leap to avoid my feet and especially my ankles ever getting close to the gap between the floor and the bed. Each night when I landed in my bed successfully I felt a sigh of relief, but I also recall wanting to be really still in my bed and being scared if I ever needed to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. These running starts and flying leaps and thoughts about a monster went on for some time. I never verbalized it, other than just saying I was scared of the dark.

Then finally one night, it happened. I took my flying leap onto the bed, and my feet didn’t leave the floor in enough time. The monster grabbed my ankles. At the same time, another monster flew out of my closet. In the panic of it all, I heard a loud “ROOOOAARRRR” of a familiar voice. I knew the monsters, and they weren’t so scary after all. One was named Paul, and one was named Steve. Both were my siblings, and older brothers who I looked up to and loved and played with all the time.

Sure, maybe this story is a metaphor, but monsters and childhood stories are easy to recall.

The point is, we all have a monster that we have to face. Also, most likely if we don’t face it, it will show up eventually anyway.
We all have fear, and to some degree, it will always be the emotion that feels so familiar that we know right away when it is present. The fact that humans can sense fear is a gift. At times, of course, it will save our lives.

Our caveman instincts kick right in, our brain sends us wild frantic messages “get out”, “this isn’t safe”, “run”, “hurry”, “quickly”, “faster”, “no even faster”, “just stay here where it is safe, enough though you aren’t happy”….it becomes relentless until the monster is just chasing us everywhere we go.

But, certain fear can prevent us from living our best lives.

When too much fear is present we find ourselves scared to show up. We stifle our emotions and hold our tongue. We are afraid we aren’t enough, worthy, smart, good-looking, funny, fill in the blank with any emotion that has created fear and we will all be able to relate_____.

Fear is the layer we need to break to stimulate the catalyst of change. We need change. We need it to grow, we need it to be better, we need it for connection, we need it to show us how strong we really are.

Trust that you have a purpose on this earth. You held purpose the very day that you were created. Your single most important job is to show every living thing that you come across your unique, amazing, and true self.
If you are scared, you aren’t alone, you are human. And our human brain is wired to tell us there is fear and monsters are present to keep us safe.

Just make sure that the monsters are real.