Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat

I stare into the void
uncertain, optimistic, wondering
should I jump, should I not?
My mind runs in circles
Reality and wishes intersect
like an indefinite Venn diagram
And in my head, in my heart,
in Jon Bellion’s words, anxiety dances.
Fear, like a thief in the night
creeps in to haunt my thoughts
But I am hopeful
Everything will be okay.

-Dany

• 

When we think of all the important things in our lives-our future, opportunities to be taken, relationships to be made and the ones to be maintained, we experience varying degrees of fear. In that moment, you hope and hope that they go away. Your hands are cold, your feet too might be. Your stomach is full of butterflies or food threatening to come up; either way, it’s fluttering. There’s a continuous, almost painful thud in your chest, your heart feels like it might burst right out. You’re trembling like a neem leaf on a Spring day. Sweat dripping down your body or palms threaten to drown you. The grimaces all come together to form eccentric circles of worry all over your aura. You’re falling, falling into uncertainty. “Can I do this?” “What if I fail?” Falling, falling. Halt!

• 

In the ways humans differ, though the response to anxiety might be similar, reasons for anxiety remain different. However, like the ‘K’ in a Chemistry equation, there is always one constant. One concept that every being feels the need to develop at that point to avoid an embarrassing flop. Courage, boldness, bravery. Call it what you want. They all boil down to the same thing- facing fears head on.

Courage gives you the ability to continue despite fear. It is the voice whispering in your ear when all hope is either lost or forgotten,”You can do this. You are capable. You are competent.” Deep down, you know you have been training, rehearsing, steeling yourself for this moment, but fear, the Achilles heel of the human race, flings itself into your thoughts like a crazed projectile. Now, I won’t even pretend you can get rid of fear. It’s a necessary emotion. Helps your motivation and maintains self-preservation. However, you find that if you don’t work to suppress it sometimes, it causes loss. Loss of dreams, loved ones, opportunities, a long list really.

• 

There’s a Spanish saying, “La suerte y la muerte solamente viene una vez.” It means, “Luck and death only come once. ” In life, you go for it if you want it bad enough, irrespective of your chances. Irrespective of your fears. If not, how would you be sure you would get it or not? Being scared and giving up could cost once in a lifetime opportunities. Mark Zuckerberg said the biggest risk in life is not taking a risk at all. So, you might want to take that risk. Apply for that scholarship, apply for that job, move to a different place if you want to, tell that person your feelings,etc. The worst that could happen is rejection and it wouldn’t kill you. Instead, you’ll have no regrets. No ‘what if’s. And the best that could happen? Fortune favours you! You get it! I am definitely not some expert on the subject matter. I too struggle with moments of courage, as any normal human should. Mine is even ridiculous in its simplicity: social anxiety(mostly). But I try to work on it, as you should try to work on yours.

In conclusion, fear is a double-edged sword. One side suppresses, the other motivates. Which would you take into the battle of achieving your goals?