By Marjorie Young

One of the greatest obstacles we face in life is fear. However, this emotion can prove our ally or our foe. Clearly, fear has its uses. For example, if you fear taking dangerous drugs or robbing a bank, it would be wise to pay it heed! We can all agree with that.

However, fear can wear other faces. What if you fear something wonderful? Auditioning for that role in a play? Leaving your hometown to take that challenging job? Daring to go for your dreams? Of course, if you experience fear at such times, you may regard it as detrimental. However, quite the opposite may be true…fearing something positive is actually a precious part of the experience! In such cases, the fear exists in order for you to overcome it!

I learned this while still a teenager. I had always hungered to travel the world and explore other cultures. I yearned for this. As a very small child, I vowed that, as soon as I was able, I would venture out on my own and allow nothing to stop me.

Quite determined, I began to work and save money, and at age nineteen was ready to set out on my first solo adventure – three months (or as long as my funds held out!) in Europe and North Africa. At first euphoric, as the day of departure approached, I instead became overwhelmed with terror. Quite panic-stricken, reality hit me…I was going to foreign countries where I had no experience dealing with anything…how I was possibly to manage?! I recall the moment my sister was driving me to the airport. I wanted to scream out, “No! I can go! Turn the car around!” I’m still not quite sure how I managed to keep silent.

But then I took a deep breath. My first stop would be London. Certainly I would not sit in Heathrow Airport for three months! Surely, once there, I’d find my way into town, get a place to stay, etc. In other words, I’d take things one step at a time.

As I resolved this, I felt no lessening of panic. Yet, I knew I would go ahead with the journey. And in the end, I had a fabulous, life-altering, daring, adventurous, and marvelous time!

I later realized that had I given in to fear and cancelled the trip, my life would have continued, but would undoubtedly have been so very different. Because after that initial trip, I fulfilled my life-long dream of going to Japan, traveling all over the world, and even living abroad for twenty years.

And I discovered that the fear I’d been required to overcome was a precious and necessary element of the experience. It inspired and profoundly influenced the rest of my life, giving me courage to face with confidence whatever challenges came my way. And facing down your own fears can do the same for you!

As I explore the psychic/spiritual view, I eagerly look forward to your comments and questions. Meanwhile, I’m wishing you the best!

E-mail: ballardpsychic@gmail.com