Fear is the first enemy of love.
What's the first thought that crossed your mind when you initially read that? Mine was, "I'm not afraid to love." Ok, that's a valid thought because I am afraid to put my heart out there for fear it will be broken. But, my response narrowly focuses on how I project my love onto someone else. As I've read and re-read this quote I find a deeper meaning.
The word love is thrown around these days haphazardly. Webster's Dictionary defines love, in part, as: "the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration." Love is much more than a feeling for someone, it is a feeling for something, too. What is your love? Do you harbor some fear in reaching it? Perhaps fear is a barrier to making our dreams a reality. The key is to overcome our fear in order to create the life we dream about.
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. ~ Henry D. Thoreau
What is your dream? Starting your own business? Moving to another state or country? Going back to school? Changing jobs? Becoming a professional athlete? Whatever it is, what's holding you back? Fear. Fear of change. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of the work. I've faced them all, and I still do. There is but one trait necessary to turn our dreams into reality -- courage. The antithesis of fear is courage. Courage is simply the mental mindset to overcome fear.
Courage is the mindset in the middle of a process. This process begins with desire. We must have a desire to follow our dreams. Only when our desire to make our dreams a reality becomes greater than our fear can we begin to develop the courage to overcome the fear. As our courage becomes more deeply ingrained in our character, fueled by smart choices and an optimistic demeanor, we develop the confidence to make the decisions necessary to change our lives. It doesn't matter what stage you're at in life because we all have this fear to some degree. We all yearn for a love of something.
So, fear is the first enemy of love. Our love. Our passion. Fear is a lock on the gate in the nexus between dreams and reality. Between here and happiness. Courage is the key to that lock. Living life and creating happiness takes courage. Stand tall amid your critics. Walk with pride away from the mine field of past decisions. Hold your head high so you can keep your dreams in sight. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. The past is over and the choices you've previously made are inconsequential to your ability to follow your dreams...as long as your desire exceeds your fear.
Fear may be the first enemy of love, but courage is the first ingredient of happiness.
