'I’m not afraid of the dark, I’m afraid of my imagination'

Michael Jordan was recently inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. One of his remarks was:

'‘Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion’

This past Friday night, my daughter, Noa Ariella Marks (pictured dancing) cuddled up to me, and said she was afraid of the dark. She turned 5 last month. But the conversation that followed showed me that, despite her youth, she has a lot to teach me.

I asked her: 'Why are you scared of the dark? The dark cannot do anything to you'.

She said: ‘I can hear lost of noises and I think there are lions and bats making those sounds. Actually, I’m not afraid of the dark, I’m afraid of my imagination’.

And that got me thinking. I am often scared of what I ‘think’ may or may not happen. It’s oftentimes not based on reality, but on my perception. I am often paralysed:

• Scared of the business meeting, not sure what the outcome may be
• Scared of the interview and whether they will like me
• Scared of saying something in case I offend someone
• Scared of doing something in case I fail

And too often, the fears are not realized. And when an outcome is not one I desired, it is most often due to something I did not anticipate. And so, the fear, paralysis or inaction, based on one premise, was totally unfounded.

I cannot anticipate everything that will, will not, may or may not happen. But what I can do is: Act...and be brave.... and deal with the issues only if, and when, they arise, instead of prejudicing the outcome with my overactive imagination.

Don’t hide behind fear

Be brave

Act out of strength