How not to be afraid

Let's face it, fear is a drag.  It keeps you clinging to the familiar, avoiding new experiences, and generally acting like a scaredy-cat toddler. But what if I told you there's a better option? An option that doesn't involve adult avoidance and high-pitched yelps? That option, my friends, is curiosity.

Curiosity, unlike fear, is an invitation. It beckons you towards the unknown, whispers promises of growth and discovery. It's the wide-eyed child staring at a caterpillar, not the one freaking out about a butterfly.



And I understand that fear only too well!

This was me, 5 years ago after I had simply had enough of being terrified by a lowly garden spider I found in the kitchen one Autumn afternoon. 

I decided to get curious and to ask myself exactly what am I so frightened of?  So that afternoon I contacted a buddy who I knew kept spiders as a hobby.  To cut a long, eight-legged story short, I had a huge, hairy-legged behemoth of a tarantula named Terrance crawl all over me to raise money for charity.

The experience changed my life. (Probably changed Terrance's life as well, but that's another story)

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Carl, that's easy for you to say. I'm not curious about spiders, I'm terrified of them!"

Ah, the eight-legged existential dread. A common foe. I understand totally. But here's the thing: fear and curiosity are two sides of the same coin. They both stem from a basic human desire – to understand what the hell is going on around us. Being curios about Terrance, learning he wasn't out to kill me, changed my whole approach and now I proudly own 8 gorgeous tarantulas. 

So, next time you see a spider chilling in your sink (because let's be honest, they always find the sink), instead of grabbing a shoe, take a deep breath and get curious. What kind of spider is it? Is it dangerous? What's it doing in your sink?

By asking questions, you shift your focus from the "OMG I'M GONNA NEED SOMEBODY TO SAVE ME!" narrative to a more investigative one. You might even learn something cool, like the fact that most house spiders are total bros who just want to eat fly's and chill with you watching Netflix.

This curiosity thing isn't just about spiders, It's about everything. That new job opportunity that seems scary? Get curious about it. Talk to people who do it, learn what it entails. That person at the party you want to talk to but are too nervous? Approach them with curiosity! Ask them about their day, their interests. You might just make a new friend

Here's the bottom line: fear keeps you stuck, curiosity sets you free.

It opens doors to new experiences, new relationships, and a life that's not defined by what scares you. So, ditch the fear mindset  (because seriously, who wants that?) and fully embrace  curiosity. It might just lead you to a place you never thought you'd go – a place filled with more happiness and fulfillment than you ever imagined.

Now go forth, conquer your fears with curiosity, and maybe even high-five that spider.