There will quickly come a time in your life where things will be mysterious. You’ll get a sense of what you know about the world, or what you can be sure of; but that also means that you’ll start realizing the things that you don’t know, and there will be things of which you can’t be sure. Don’t worry, this happens to all of us.
Kept in check, this mystery and uncertainty can be a powerful motivator. It can drive you to seek out answers to tough questions and it can push you to achieve more than you thought you could. It will make you stronger and wiser, if you let it.
Left unguarded, however, and it can turn to fear. Fear is powerful, as well. But fear can lead you to rash actions and poor decisions, or it can paralyze you and keep you from thinking at all.
When you’re little, fear can make you think that there is a monster under the bed or that scary things exist in the dark that don’t exist in the light. Don’t worry; there is no monster, and everything in daylight is pretty much exactly the same as it is at night.
When you’re a little older, fear may make you think you’re not talented enough for the tryouts or smart enough for the college. Don’t worry; you can be the best at anything you decide.
When you’re even older, fear may make you think that you’ll bomb the interview or that you won’t amount to anything. Don’t worry; you’ll knock’em dead, no matter what you do.
Fear is a liar. Fear tells you things that aren’t true and chains you to your insecurities so that you can’t ever move further than they allow you. The good news is, you don’t have to believe a thing that fear tells you. That doesn’t mean you won’t hear it from time to time--fear can be loud. And sometimes, fear may be the thing that helps you focus on the best within yourself to overcome what lies ahead. This is called courage. It’s when you can hear what fear says, but you choose not to believe it. It isn’t easy, but it’s possible.
For now, don’t worry. I’ll still check to make sure there are no monsters under the bed. I’ll hold your hand in the dark. I’ll work with you at whatever talent inspires passion in you, and I’ll help you with that college application. I’ll proofread your resume and get you a new outfit for that interview, and I will be proud of whatever you become. No matter what fears you face, you will never face them alone.
And above all else, remember that I love you.