Beyond Fear, Finding Courage
"Where lies the line between the two?"
Are you hesitant? I can tell…
Are you afraid? I dare not say…
Have you glimpsed the other side? I always wondered…
What if you tried? If only I could…
I wish I could cross over to the other side and reach what now feels unreachable. I wish I could silence the voice of logic and dive headfirst into the impossible. I wish I could overcome the fear that holds me back and find the courage to delve deeper into the mystery that lies beyond. I keep wondering: “What does it feel like?…is it truly dangerous, or just a trick of my restless mind?…am I afraid…or is there something more hidden beneath that fear?" And as these thoughts swirl in my head, I remain motionless; immotile — trapped in my own seat — passive, held down by the dangers I imagine and the consequences of actions I have yet to take, or more truthfully, the consequences of the actions I only dream of.
“…and if only I could” I thought. “…if only I could stop everything spinning in my mind and just do what I am supposed to do” I wondered. Thoughts swirl — loud, fast, violent — but there is only one way forward; just do it! Do what you want; and leave the fear behind. “Easy to say” I thought. But doing it? Not so easy. Why? And then it hit me — because every situation is different. Each one needs its own approach. And sometimes, fear does not step aside just because you tell it to. Is logic creeping back into my thoughts? Is it the anxiety of making a decision that might change everything? Or is it just me — what I am, what I have always been? Honestly, I do not know. But I suspect. I suspect where it comes from. And I am still not sure if that makes me proud… or just a little ashamed.
Have you ever tried bungee jumping — or skydiving? Have you ever thought about walking through that foggy, seemingly spooky forest close to your home — even though you know it is perfectly safe? Have you felt restless — knowing you need to confront a friend or partner you once admired, that who in truth, has been holding you back? Have you ever sat frozen — unable to decide — when a long work trip lingered on the horizon? Or felt your heart race while waiting for the outcome of a football match you played in, an exam that could shape your future, or the medical test results you have been anxiously waiting? If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone. The truth is, what we feel in these moments often is not just fear — at least not in the way we usually define it. And that is when I start to wonder: “What if I wasn’t afraid?…would anything change?…would I become a different person — more mature, I wonder?…or would I be more vulnerable, more indifferent... or maybe even more powerful?” These thoughts swirl endlessly in my mind, until fear quietly takes over once again. And suddenly, what once felt like a simple decision, now demands to be reconsidered.
It is unsettling to step into the unknown. It is uncomfortable to leap into situations you barely understand — especially when you know that your choices do not just affect you, but others as well. For as long as I can remember, I believed that fear and courage were two sides of the same coin — that once fear took hold, courage could no longer exist. I told myself this over and over. I believed it deeply. Even now, knowing it is just a trick of the mind, I still find it hard to shift my thinking.
While fear often takes the blame, I have come to realize that it is not fear itself that holds us back — it is uncertainty. Not knowing what lies ahead creates fear. And when fear arises, we are faced with a choice: fight or flight? The more I reflect, the less I believe there is a clear line between fear and courage. They are not opposites — they are simply different. Fear is a feeling. Courage is a decision. Courage is not the absence of fear or the presence of invincibility. It is the choice to move forward despite fear — to act while vulnerable, when the outcome is unknown, when your very “being” is exposed, when something truly meaningful is at risk. Courage does not show up in our strongest, most polished moments but it reveals itself when we dare to be seen — fully, honestly, and imperfectly.
Are you still afraid? I can tell…
Would you stay still? I dare not say…
How does it feel? I always wondered…
Would you even attempt it? If only I could…
About the Creator
Arjiris
Vividly exploring emotions and imagery through prose poetry!
Society Often Teaches Us to Suppress Our Sad Feelings, Branding Them as Negative.
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