He Who Trembles Is Not Bored

"Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over again to annihilation, can that which is indestructible arise within us. In this lies the dignity of daring. We must have the courage to face life, to encounter all that is most perilous in the world," said philosopher and psychotherapist Karlfried Graf Durkeim.

Challenge generates ALIVENESS, which makes life worth living.

In his book "Callings", Gregg LeVoy says, "The desire to protect ourselves from change probably does more harm to the flowing of human life and spirit than almost any other choice, but it is imperative to understand something about security: It isn't secure! Everything about security is contrary to the central fact of existence: Life changes. By trying to shelter ourselves from change, we isolate ourselves from living. By avoiding risk we may feel safe and secure -- or at least experience a tolerable parody thereof -- but we don't avoid the harangues of our consciences. It's almost axiomatic that the import risks we don't take now become the regrets we have later. In fact, I was once told that if I'm not failing regularly, I'm living so far below my potential that I'm failing anyway."

What do you desire that you also fear?

Osho says, "To accept the challenge of the unknown in spite of all fears, is courage. The fears are there, but if you go on accepting the challenge again and again, slowly those fears disappear, because the experience of the joy that the unknown brings, the great ecstasy that starts happening with the unknown makes you strong enough, gives you a certain integrity, makes your intelligence sharp. For the first time you start feeling that life is not just a bore but an adventure. Then slowly fears disappear; then you are always seeking and searching for some new adventure."

"Courage is the willingness to be afraid and to act anyway."
--Stewart Emery

In addition to all the fears and emotional pain that are part of interacting with life, we're currently encountering new fears generated by a bad economy, corporate greed and terrorism. And rather than experiencing these new fears and acting anyway, there is a lot of closing down. People are afraid to fly, afraid to travel, afraid to invest, afraid to gather in major public places. Tourism to the San Francisco Bay area has all but closed down, in great part, because people are afraid the bridges will be targeted by terrorists.

Anyone reading this column is far too metaphysically oriented to respond to life in this way. Your life will always mirror what you put out. Fearful thoughts and actions will generate a fearful life of NO action. When you hold back, your life holds back. But when you're willing to be afraid and act anyway ... committing yourself to life, you generate ALIVENESS and open to the full potential of JOY.