One couple spent a holiday driving in the mountains. "Every time you race around
one of those narrow curves," exclaimed the wife,
"I just get terrified."
"Then do what I do," suggested her husband. "Close your eyes!" We are all afraid
at times, but closing our eyes is not always a helpful way through fear. Better
to open your eyes and face those fears head-on.
In 1972 David Miln Smith had such an opportunity. Smith, an adventurer, author,
and professional speaker, decided to spend a night alone in St. Michael's Cave
on the island of Gibraltar as a test of courage. In his book, HUG THE MONSTER
(Kansas City: Andrews and McMeel, 1996), he tells of hearing strange sounds all
around him as he lay there in the pitch-black, damp, deserted cave that night.
Particularly, he came to believe he was not alone!
Fear became panic and he was afraid he was losing his mind. Then suddenly, as he
was approaching his psychological breaking point, Smith thought to himself,
"Whatever the monster looks like, I will hug it." That simple, almost silly
thought, brought great relief to his restless mind. He soon fell into a deep and
peaceful sleep until morning. He learned that embracing his fear, literally or
figuratively, allowed him to subdue it.
We each have our nights of fear. We each encounter monsters of some sort. We may
fear spiders or insects, heights or crowds, abandonment or loneliness, the
future or death. And most of us are occasionally visited by shadows of these
monsters in the dark of night.
An interesting sequel to Smith's story is that the curator of St. Michael's Cave
later informed the adventurer that he had discovered unusual footprints in the
cave the morning after his overnight stay! Which shows, of course, that though
fears may be legitimate, they must still be embraced.
The next time you're afraid, try "hugging the monster." Face that fear head-on,
whatever it is, and embrace it. You may be surprised at how quickly it slips
away, and at how confident you begin to feel. Like that beautiful spirit Eleanor
Roosevelt said,
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you
stop to look fear in the face."
Do you have a monster to hug?
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.
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