"Trust liberates, fear paralyzes," Pope saysI have always been fascinated by stories. Mineyours, yours, those of anyone who dares to share them. And if there is one phrase that resonates throughout history, it is this: "Do not be afraid". It appears 365 times in the Bible, as a daily reminder. I can't help but think how meaningful this message is, especially for someone like me, who has learned to live with that feeling.
When I started my professional and social journey, fear was always present, like an uncomfortable voice whispering, "What if you're wrong?", "Are you sure?". At first I tried to ignore it, but soon I understood something crucial: fear doesn't go away when you run away; it just waits around the next corner.
What changed everything was to understand that fear is not an enemy, but a teacher. I realized that we only have to respond to the daily invitation of that phrase: "Don't be afraid today". Every day is a new opportunity to take a step, however small, towards what really matters.
In my case, I felt fear when I failed my university entrance exam and it seemed that everything was falling apart. Later, I felt it when I hit rock bottom emotionally and had to stop living under a character. Even now, with each new project, that feeling keeps coming up. But it doesn't terrify me anymore. Now I know that if something scares me, it's because it's worth it.
Turning fear into a driving force
Fear points to the essential: no one is afraid of the insignificant. If you're afraid to present that project, it's probably because it really matters. If you're paralyzed to change your life, it's because you know you need to. Every knot in your stomach is a compass, and every day is an opportunity to try.
Today, my commitment is not to overcome fear all at once, but to take small, steady steps. To make my bed, to listen without haste, to trust that today's effort will make sense tomorrow. Because great changes begin in the everyday.
My invitation to you is this: live each day with a small act of courage. Do what is in your hands today, and let tomorrow take care of itself. Because, in the end, the fear will always be there, but so will that phrase, whispering to us every day: "Do not be afraid".
Social entrepreneur. Founder of the "We Are Seekers" community. @pabloespanaosborne
