Wisdom

Fear

“It is the source of most of our personal pain and needless suffering in the world. It has been linked to physical maladies from ulcers to cancers. It lies at the root of greed and aggression, racism and sexism, bigotry, bad blood, and trouble between neighborhoods and nations. We fear not only for ourselves, but for our families, friends, and the world. We fear rejection and loneliness, commitment, failure, and even success. We fear that we won’t be able to measure up to the competition or the expectation of others, or even our own expectations of ourselves. We fear that we may be perceived as not smart enough, fine enough, thin enough, black enough; that our pockets aren’t deep enough, or that they are and everyone is trying to get something from us.”

Susan L. Taylor
Confirmation: The spiritual wisdom that has shaped our lives