The Greatest Fear-2

The Greatest Fear-2

With the passage of time, this feeling — I'm not good enough — prepares a perennial battleground of two opposing forces, fear and self-affirmation. On the one hand, we try to console ourselves by way of self-affirmation that I can't be that bad, at least I got the second place, I deserve some happiness too. It makes us touchy and it makes us edgy, we become averse to even constructive criticism and put up a wall of defense to protect ourselves, effectively shutting out many good things in the process.

On the other hand, the fear of happiness makes us feel I can't possibly attain the success I used to dream of, I can't be worthy of such pleasures and joy, of so much love and care. When good things do happen, we think it's luck, or plain fluke, that we couldn't possibly deserve this goodness. This is the fear of happiness. And, it stops most people from chasing their dreams, it's the obstacle to realizing their full potential because after being put down for so long, they begin to believe that they are not the candidates for happiness.

Don't let this happen to you. It's normal to have disagreements, it's fine to even have arguments sometimes, but it's not okay to be dismissed. If you want to rise above the fear of happiness, so you may live your life to the fullest, don't allow anyone to belittle you. And if they do, they shouldn't be a part of your life. Distance yourself. Find a way.

The fear of happiness comes from not believing in yourself, it comes from taking yourself for granted. And, if you allow others to treat you a dump, to take you for granted then let me tell you, they will take you for granted. Observe the successful and happy people around, and you'll discover a common trait: they treat themselves with respect. They are not afraid of being happy, and you won't be either if you learn to love yourself. Very few people enjoy happiness, most are afraid of losing it, and in that fear, they almost always lose it.

A priest was waiting in line at a serviced gas station just before a long weekend. The attendants were trying their best but there were just too many cars. Finally, his turn came.

“Reverend,” said the attendant, “I’m sorry about the wait. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.”

“Tell me about it," the priest quipped. "It’s the same in my business.”

What are you waiting for? Life will go on, time will continue to tick, if you don't put aside your fear of happiness now, you may never muster the courage to do it later. Gandhi once said, “The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear.” If you let the enemy walk over you, they will do it. Fear instills a feeling of contempt and hatred, what's worse, fear makes you either obsessively self-conscious or obnoxiously self-critical; either way, it makes you feel inadequate.

You deserve every ounce of happiness life has to offer. Why? Because the fact that you are breathing and living means Nature wants you. Universe wants you. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone screws up at some point, it doesn't mean you are a disaster. Let not anyone drill fear in you by making you feel any less. "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." Don't be afraid of your immense potential, your happiness; go claim it.

Bite down on your mouthpiece and say, 'Let's go.'

Om Namah Shivay