fear

there are two ways to overcome (which is to say, to deal with), fear: Confidence and apathy. I'll give two examples to help explain. Fear is a constant hindrance when snowboarding. Fear prevents me from going fast because I might hurt myself, whether that be crashing into a tree, end-over-ending and breaking my neck, or hurting a fellow skiier or snowboarder. I've realized on occasion that I can let go of these fears and ride faster, and this happens in the two ways i mentioned. I can gain confidence (which comes from PRACTICE, not merely force-of-will, but it is also the acknowledgement of the current skill attained). This let's me understand I am in control in a greater range of experiences. The other key method is apathy, or lack of attachment. If I am 100% *ok* with hitting a tree, I'm not going to worry about it. I have my buddy with me who will call rescue. I have had 30 great years. I am ok with these sorts of outcomes. So I worry less, ride faster, and ride better. Example #2: I'm afraid of insects and spiders. Mine is not a particular paralyzing level of fear, but it exists nonetheless. Examining this fear and trying to rationalize it, I broke it down to some things that are worth being afraid of. What if the insect has hundreds of friends and these friends are hell-bent on making me miserable by biting me all over and perhaps spreading venom to my veins. Ok *that's* worth being afraid of. Well, I'm pretty confident that won't happen. And if I try hard enough, I'm apathetic toward the result. If the odds are such that I die from hundreds of spiders, meh, again, 30 great years on the planet! My fear has thus decreased by application of this technique.