Fear and hope can be thought of as two sides of the same coin. They’re both based in the unknown. One leads to playing it safe, while the other leads to growth. By understanding the nature of each, we can make better decisions.

Fear

Embracing the fear side of the coin feels safe and responsible. Doing this, we can prepare for the worst. Lots of people will tell you to play it safe and to do the safe thing. While there are certainly instances that we should play it safe, there are instances where it slows or stops our progress. Basing decisions on fear can limit your potential.

Fear is based in the unknown. Maybe we’re afraid we’ll fail if we try. Maybe we have too much to lose. Maybe we don’t know enough. Maybe the timing isn’t right, or there’s too many other things to do. Making decisions based on fear is self-limiting. If we only go with what we know, we’re missing out on opportunities for growth and learning.

Stop and think for a moment, where is your fear based? Is it negative self-talk? Is it something somebody told you that you needed to consider? Consider the source of your fear, and ask yourself if this is where you should be making decisions from. Ask yourself, why is it considered more practical to base decisions in fear?

Hope

On the other side of the coin is hope. Hope is based in the unknown as well. Hope requires a lack of knowledge. If you have knowledge about the outcome of something, then you have to reason to hope for something greater. This makes hope based in the unknown.

Hope leads to boundless growth and potential. When you move forward (because you don’t have a choice, time will push us all forward one way or another) in hope, you have a posture of action. You explore potential. You are looking for positive outcomes.

This means that hope also requires effort. Perhaps we embrace laziness as fear in the name of prudence and responsibility. We say that it’s more responsible to make decisions based on fear, when in reality, it’s just easier to do because making decisions based on hope requires effort. Understand that when you deal in hope, you’re committing to effort. Effort that will pay off in the end.

Reality

Richard Wagner, German composer, director, and conductor said, “Imagination creates reality.” The question is, what reality are you creating from where you are right now? What do you imagine? Do you imagine the worst will happen based on fear? If so, then you act accordingly, and you create that self-limiting reality. If though, you imagine a hopeful future based on your dreams and goals, you create a powerful and compelling reality. You have the power, right now, to choose what reality you will create.

How often do you play it safe? How often should you be embracing your dreams and living with hope instead? What reality are you creating today?

The MAKE ROOM Journal & Planner is designed to help you design your own life, and move forward in hope. You can understand your goals and values, explore them more deeply, and then design your life accordingly.