We’d probably be better off if we could simply say, “I’m afraid.”
Our culture has persistently reminded us that the only thing to fear is fear itself, that confessing fear is a failure and that it’s better to lie than to appear un-brave.
And so we pretend to be experts in public health and epidemiology instead of simply saying, “I’m afraid.”
We fight possible change from the start instead of examining it on the merits.
And we make uninformed assertions about the causes and implications of global phenomena instead of acknowledging that change is scary.
Fear of being afraid keeps things on our to-do list forever, keeps important conversations from happening and shifts how we see our agency and leverage in the world.
The bravest leaders and contributors aren’t worried about appearing afraid. It allows them to see the world more clearly.