I really love Carl Jung.
Except when he says things like, “Where your fear is there your task is.”
Get out of here, Carl!
But since we’re on the topic, where is your fear these days?
Sometimes in a coaching session, when it becomes obvious that we’re in the presence of fear, I might ask a question like: what’s the fear here? or, what are you afraid of?
Something happens in the naming: seeing. And in the recognition, the opportunity to extend the curiosity even further: if we were to spend a bit of time with that fear, what is it wanting you to know? what might it be alerting you to?
It’s always surprising to see what unfolds when we extend a bit of hospitality to what’s usually excluded.
What are you afraid of? It’s a strange way of making a to-do list. But if Carl is right—that where your fear is, there your work is—then a fear is an indicator of what’s important, necessary, even vital, to attend to.
If you were to list a few, what’s currently on your fear list? (Below is a list to help you get started.)
And if this all seems a little much for a morning newsletter, don’t hate me—blame Carl.
Fear of being ignored
Fear of betrayal
Fear of bankruptcy, poverty, insolvency
Fear of sacrificing your dreams for theirs
Fear of not having the right training or degree or qualifications
Fear of what they would do if you said what you really think
Fear of obsolescence—that your best work might be behind you
Fear of ignorance—that you never did find your best work to begin with
Fear of squandering what you’ve been given
Fear of failing to support your family
Fear of being average
Fear of being too late to start
Fear of failure
Fear of looking ridiculous
Fear of not being enough
Fear of being too much
Fear of free-fall
Fear of not having any talent
Fear of passing the point of no return
Fear of rejection or abandonment
Fear of death
Fear of being successful
Quote
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure that you seek.”
—Joseph Campbell
Question
If you were to listen to your life, and if you were to listen to one of your fears, and if that fear was in fact a cave, what would you need to enter it?
Poem
The Guesthouse
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
—Rumi
Thanks for reading,
Lance Odegard
unstucking.co
Hi there! 👋 My name’s Lance - I’m a writer, coach, and learning designer from Vancouver BC, Canada. In this publication, you’ll find a growing archive of resources for those looking for creativity fuel to keep moving and making. Thanks for stopping by.
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