Daily Gratitude: Boy, it’s taken me 74 years to realize this. Fear has been a subject we’ve talked about several times. Yet, overcoming it is key that unlocks the pathways to happiness. So why is it so hard? Because it’s one of those things that gets ingrained in you as an infant, often even before birth. The fear of your parents can be passed from generation to generation. It seems unfair that we should have no choice in how much fear we experience and maybe it is unfair. It’s certainly not your fault. But it is your responsibility- to change that. As an adult, and as a human (blessed with a brain and thought process) you have the ability to change those ingrained beliefs, one of which is fear. Awareness is key though. You have to be aware that what you are feeling is fear and then you have to decide what to do- stay afraid or take some small incremental steps that can lead to conquering that fear. Small steps will get you there. Do something you really don’t want to do. Maybe you only do it in your mind to start with. But that’s ok because your mind doesn’t know the difference between visualization and reality. Really feel what it would be like to do one small thing. Maybe it’s just talking on a zoom call or saying hi to someone on the street. Ask yourself what the worst that can happen is. Then ask if it will kill you. If not, then you can do it. You may be uncomfortable but you’re not unsafe. Remember that.