Just when you think you have got the answer. Si Ekin's Courage Journal. 26th April, 2012.

I did one of my motivational, "Turn Your Fears Into Opportunities" talks to a hospice the other day. What a ride!

I was asked by the lead counsellor to come and talk about fear. Very appropriate, given that the counsellors deal with death on a daily basis.

I was nervous. Such thoughts came to mind as: "surely what I am doing is pretty trivial compared to death? Will I make any sense in an area that I feel I know not much about, really? Would I be inappropriate to the situation?"

Well, it turned out to be a most profound experience. They actually loved it as did I. 

What I got from the process was that what I am actually doing is transforming fear - by playing with it, welcoming it in and embracing it, rather than (and look at the language we use around fear) overcoming it, dealing with or banishing it. Of course, what we resist, persists, which is why there is so much fear in our lives. 

I am getting, again and again, that there really is nothing to fear, not even death. Why? Because we can handle anything, and what we cannot handle, God (or a word of your choice, like The Force - my personal curent favourite - or Higher Power or such like, if you, like me have too much past negative connotation with God.)

So the rub is, if we can handle anything, there is nothing to fear and that fear is our greatest opportunity in disguise. 

Go there and you will be amazed. And if you fail, you will be successful.

One woman said to me, "you are really getting ready for death aren't you?" I was quite rocked by the question, but then I realised that what she was saying was that I am getting my life in order, dealing with what I need to deal with, getting it in integrity where it is out and being content with who, and where I am.

Ah this journey. There my ego is, thinking I have got this cracked when along comes an elderly counsellor lady saying, "oh, so what you are doing is befriending fear, yes?" 

Now where was that on the script?!

Courageously yours, 

Si.