Unleashing Joy: Learning to be Fearless

Thich Nhat Hanh teaches that learning to be fearless in front of fear is one of our greatest joys. We get lost in worries about the future or regrets about the past, and we miss what’s happening right now.

We don’t take the next step. We don’t start the relationship we want. We don’t go to the place we’ve dreamed of. We are not honest with ourselves or others about our desires and needs. We tell ourselves something bad will happen, so we stay where it feels “safe” even if we know it is not working for us. 

Sometimes even in happy moments, fear shows up. “What if this doesn’t last?” “What if something goes wrong?” Or we think we must get rid of fear completely. That becomes its own trap.

Many of us carry fear because at some point it protected us. Maybe you grew up in a place where being cautious helped you survive. Fear was a shield.

Once you see this clearly, the relationship changes. Fear may still be there, but you don’t have to obey it. You can meet it with steadiness and compassion. You can stand in front of it without shrinking, and you can hold it tenderly.

From there, fear loosens its grip. And what takes its place is a kind of quiet joy of learning to be steady in the face fear.