Let’s start with FEAR. The fuel largely propelling the unexamined life.
This scene pictured is from the Netflix Original Series, Orange is the New Black, a show with a knack for poignantly illustrating concepts in an unexpected way.
Centered, we see CO Lee Dixon (portrayed by Mike Houston) having it out with a couple of hecklers he and his friends have crossed paths with at this fair.
“Their whole relationship, they’ve had to put up with people from the outside judging…like getting through the colossal complexities of maintaining a relationship ain’t hard enough…”
He continues, “…because how well can we ever really know one another when we’re all just a collection of skin masks covering up our fears?”
Fear. The unseen force driving us to action, pushing us apart, or paralyzing us. Judgement, is usually rooted in some kind of fear. We withhold truth and feelings out of fear. We numb out or disengage because of fear.
Would you be willing to get curious about something so ominous?
How do you know when you’re scared?
What would it take to notice and and simply be with fear as it comes…and goes?