Breaking Free From Fear
DON'T FEAR THE TICKING CLOCKS!
If you're anything like me, the number one fear you hold in your life is the passing of time. And why not? It's something that exists everywhere, and whether you like it or not, you cannot do anything about it. It's no surprise why it's something to be feared, either. There are a lot of things that time can do to mess with you, and I've been a victim of it multiple times.
What comes next in your future, for example, is something scary. To succeed or to fail, to live or to die, it almost feels cloudy, like a thick fog covering your mind. I remember this film I watched, Casablanca. Its ending was uncertain, with a figurative and a literal fog surrounding the landscape. What were to become of the couple? What was to become of the cafe owner? We're left to guess what happens next, much like how we're left to guess what happens next. I've described this path as a long winding road, like the one shown in the artwork "Chasing the Light." The path towards your success is also uncertain: You never know what will happen as you trek it, or even how long it will take to reach your destination. This overall uncertainty can weigh on a man, and make them question if it's even worth continuing. If whatever I just said describes you, then I want you to know you are not alone.
Time being finite is another thing that leads to dread. For many, this sinking feeling is created, that something bad will happen when your clock strikes zero. Whether it's the looming feeling of death or some other kind of loss, it's a human reaction to fear of time running out. We're biologically programmed to panic when faced with fear, like in the artwork "Guernica." We, as humans fear death: and for many, that's what the end of a clock could mean. You can feel this pressure build up too: Having it all bottled up and exploding into something horrible at the end is something that can happen to a lot of people. Listen to "In the Hall of The Mountain King," and notice how it starts slow but builds up into something loud and exaggerated: This is a literal manifestation of that pressure I just described. I even argued that in my previous post, which was quite literally all about running out of time!
So, is that why you're scared? You're scared of what your future will be, and running out of time? You're scared of these things, caused by time moving forward?
I won't sugarcoat it, I understand these feelings. Time moving forward can be a scary thing, but it can also be beautiful. Take a look at the photos I posted under "Changing for the Future." Each of these beautiful phenomena is caused by time itself! The passing days, the changing of seasons, even watching your beloved pet grow up: you find each of these things beautiful, right?
Being afraid of time won't get you anywhere, either. I imagine, if you're anything like me, you're excited to get your degree. And yet, here you are, panicking about every little thing. What grade will I get? Did I do good enough? Am I making everyone proud?
STOP THINKING THOSE THOUGHTS!
Why are you stressed out about something that hasn't even happened yet? Are you afraid of that uncertainty?
It's understandable to be afraid of the unknown, but, to always fear it takes out one of the biggest components that life has to offer! Sure, sometimes it might not be what you expected, but it's a part of life nonetheless. You wanna liberate yourself from this fear of time? Then, hold off on your fear! As put in the poem, "Freedom," you'll never obtain it "through compromise and fear".
In case it wasn't made clear, this manifesto is written out to all the people who are scared of time, its uncertainty, and its passing. However, this is also a personal declaration: that I am choosing to liberate myself from this fear. All my life, I've been afraid of things changing, as if time was running out. It's always given me this sinking feeling as if I was the drowning man in the video film "Ascension." however, as the video references the man's rebirth, I am undergoing one as well, starting right now.
And so, as you and I continue with our lives, make sure to enjoy every moment. Don't fret about things changing, and don't fret if you feel like time is running out. Don't let your doubts warp your mind, and don't let failures hold you back. For each passing day that comes, will come a new opportunity to succeed.
















