Continuing on about from my last discussion I will discuss the last three fears that Napoleon Hill talked about. Loss of Love of Someone, The Fear of Old Age, The Fear of Death. Using another Mark Twain quote.
“Courage is the resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not the absence of fear.”
The last three fears are something we will all experience. It does not matter what you do, it is just a fact of life. If you are born then at some point you must die. If you are young, then eventually you will grow old and last you will lose people you love along the way.
I have experienced the loss of a loved one, I deal with the fear of old age, and fear of death. things many times. The loss of my grandparents who I loved, the loss of my parents and finally the loss of my wife.
Yes they died but as long as I keep their memories close to my heart they are still with me. How about the fear of growing old? In philosophy there is a statement attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. The essence of his philosophy is captured in the phrase:
"The only constant in life is change."
This idea reflects Heraclitus's belief that everything is in a state of flux and that change is the fundamental essence of the universe. This implies that we do not have to like changes like growing old, but we shouldn’t fear them.
These fears are just a part of life, and you should not let them cripple you. The last one, the fear of dying, again we cannot change this. It will happen, so my only thought is from Mahatma Gandhi says
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
It emphasizes the importance of fully living in the present while also taking care of yourself and continuing to grow, as if you have a long life ahead. to live today like it will be your last.
This ties into my belief that if you want to make the most of your life then you should be living with purpose, working in areas that give you joy while helping others along the way.
Ending with another saying by Heraclitus, "You cannot step into the same river twice," emphasizing that both the river and the person stepping into it are constantly changing.
Recognize your fears, and work past them so that you can enjoy all that life has to offer. I think of a quote by George Bernard Shaw:
"I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake."
Shaw’s quote emphasizes the idea of living life to the fullest, being active, and making the most of one's time, rather than sitting idly by frozen by your fears. It's about embracing life's challenges and opportunities so that when you reach the end, you know you've given it your all.
If you have struggled with this question and others then go to Patterson2Y2R.com/blog should be a place you should visit to share your stories and challenges. I have an ear that would love to hear your stories. Let’s taste the real meaning of life.
I am still working on my course with a goal of launching a starter course fall, and I will keep you abreast as to how the process goes. If you want to participate in this process and join my first class please send me an email to bobchuckpatterson@yahoo.com
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