Anxiety was born in the very same moment as mankind. And since we will never be able to master it, we will have to learn to live with it, just as we have learned to live with storms.– Paulo Coelho
When I was little, my family had a beautiful golden retriever name Gay who was the most loyal and protective companion a small child could hope for. Though she was endlessly gentle and patient with every person she encountered, she saved my life when I was a baby by ferociously killing a German shepherd that tried to attack me. Despite her bold bravery in defending those she loved, Gay was terrified of thunder storms, and would totally freak out at the first sound of thunder. Even as a little girl, I loved storms and was puzzled that such a brave and noble dog could be afraid of something so silly.
Over the years, of course, I’ve seen time and time again that most of us carry fears that make no logical sense. Whether they arise from past life trauma, early childhood experiences, or the beliefs we’ve absorbed from the world around us, we all have wounds to heal and fears to conquer. Indeed, to take on a physical body is to enter into a very intimate relationship with fear itself, and to embark on a wonder-filled but arduous journey for the development of faith in a higher plan.