On Fear

Rudolf Steiner.

"I refuse to submit to fear

that takes away my joy of freedom,

that keeps me from taking the risk,

that makes me small and petty, grabbing me,

that prevents you from being direct and frank,

that haunts me and occupies my imagination,

always painting gloomy visions.

I don’t want to raise barriers out of fear.

I want to live and I don’t want to lock myself up.

I don’t want to be friendly for fear of being honest.

I want my steps to be steady because I’m sure…

and not to hide the fear.

And when I shut up, I want to do this out of love.

and not out of fear of the consequences of my words.

I don’t want to believe anything just for fear of not believing.

I don’t want to philosophise out of fear

that something might hit me up close and personal.

I don’t want to bend only for fear of being unlovable,

I don’t want to impose anything on others.

for fear that they might impose something on me;

for fear of making a mistake, I don’t want to become passive.

I don’t want to run back to the “old” for fear

I wouldn’t feel safe in “new.”

I don’t want to make myself important for fear

of being ignored otherwise.

In conviction and love I want to do what I do

and stop what I stop doing."