Facing Our Fears: A Spiritual Path to Courage
Take a moment to think on your deepest aspirations that are aligned with your values.
What are those dreams and goals that make your heart race with excitement and possibility?
Maybe it's:
Writing a book
Starting a side business
Changing to a job you love more
Now, ask yourself: what's really stopping you from doing these things?
Often, the answer is fear. It could be fear of:
Having a difficult conversation
Making a bold request
Taking a risk that feels too big.
I can relate to these feelings.
For example, I’ve got lots of goals and dreams around Sufi Comics. And when I want to try something new or different, I often experience a mix of excitement and fear. Thoughts like:
"Will this work?"
"What will people think?"
"What happens if I fail?" pop into my head.
These fears sometimes stop me from moving forward. Maybe you've felt the same way.
But I've also learned that these fears are normal, and they don't have to hold us back.
So, what can we do to move past our fears? Let's take a look at this Sufi Comic:
Art by Charbak Dipta
When we look at the Qur’an, we see that God wants us to overcome our fears:
"Fear not, nor grieve! And receive good tidings…” (Quran 41:30)
"So do not fear the people but fear Me…” (Quran 5:44)
Now this is easier said than done, how can we face and overcome fears? Here are two reminders I find helpful:
From Worry to Trust: Overcome Fear Through Spiritual Insight
When we take spiritual path, our perspective on how the world works starts to shift. We begin to see the world as a reflection of God's attributes—His Power, Mercy, Compassion, and Justice.
It's like that moment in "The Matrix" when Neo sees the reality behind the illusion.
The curtain lifts, and suddenly, the world isn't just what it appears to be on the surface.
This shift in perspective can support us in facing our fears. When we believe that everything is ultimately in God's hands, it becomes easier to overcome our anxieties.
Our thoughts begin to change:
Instead of worrying about outcomes, we learn to rely on God.
Even if we fail, we pray for strength to keep going.
We start to see facing our fears as part of fulfilling our life's purpose.
This doesn't mean our fears disappear completely. But it does give us a powerful tool to work through them. We're no longer alone in our struggles—we have faith as our ally.
Fear Diminishes When We Take Action
There's a powerful saying from Imam Ali that has really helped me:
"When you're afraid to do something, do it anyway. Because the real harm is usually less than what you imagine or fear."
Isn't that an interesting way to think about it? It encourages us to face our fears, reminding us that worrying about something is often worse than actually doing it.
Recently, I met a social worker who shared amazing stories about his work with riot victims. His job involved dealing with police, investigations, and even threats from powerful people. When I asked if he ever felt scared, his answer really made me think.
He said that fear has a limit. At first, it's overwhelming because we imagine all the bad things that could happen. But as we face our fears repeatedly, they become familiar. We reach a point where the fear starts to fade. It doesn't disappear completely, but we learn how to manage it.
His words reminded me of times when I've worked through my own fears, showing me that courage is like a muscle we can strengthen with practice.
An Invitation to take Action
Now, I invite you to think about your goals again. Perhaps it is:
Creating and sharing art publicly
A new place you want to travel
Asking for a promotion
What fears are holding you back from achieving them?
Today, I invite you—and myself—to take a step towards one of our goals. It doesn't have to be a big step—even a small one counts. The important thing is to do something, trusting that we have the inner strength to do it.
Remember, it's normal to feel fear, and it won't completely go away. But God wants us to overcome our fears. With practice, faith, and courage, we can learn to move forward despite our fears and achieve what really matters to us.
