The Uncertain and Its Best Friend: Fear

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The uncertain scares us.

If you walk through a narrow, pitch-dark street in the middle of the night, your mind won’t drift to the scent of daffodils or attractive women.

Instead, you’ll imagine the darkest human being you might encounter and if your imagination is strong enough, even supernatural beings.

The reason your clothes  turn into monsters when you switch off the lights at night is the same: a meeting of imagination, darkness, and the unknown.

Life’s uncertainties feel similar to me.

If there’s an unknown in the equation (and there usually is, unfortunately 🙂

Our brains weighing 1.5 KG almost always imagine the possibilities that frighten and tremble us, rather than the positive ones.

I think this is a defense mechanism. Our brain is actually trying to protect us but it does so in the maybe most painful and anxiety inducing way possible.

I’m sure you’ve had moments when, sitting with your midday coffee and thinking about the future, you suddenly picture everything going downhill and all the worst-case scenarios unfolding.

I have, many times.

In those moments, I try to listen to hopeful songs and read stories and poems of people bringing hope like a sunshine coming through the window on a spring noon. It helps. Mary Oliver’s poem “I Worried” is a lovely companion.

And I know that when you turn on the TV or pick up your phone, the world seems upside down, burning and crumbling.

The chaos goes on endlessly.

Yet, I look forward to the days when we can create our own worlds within this world.

With love.

—K

WRITER