Fear is a Question

It was 1980s human potentialist Marilyn Ferguson who said, "Fear is a question: What are you afraid of and why? Our fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if we explore them"

​I don't think the real horseman exists who hasn't been afraid at one time or another.  Author Mary Twelveponies breaks the fear of horses into three, common categories:
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• Fear born of inexperience,
• Fear resulting from trauma, and
• Fear based in respect.

I've felt all three at various times, usually more than once and sometimes for extended periods.

The third ~ respect-based fear ~ is positive; I don't mind keeping it.  As the vaqueros used to say, "A man won't make a good horse until he is afraid to ride."

A man won't make a good horse until he is afraid to ride.

But the others...they must be faced squarely, evaluated, and addressed. Through education. Through creativity. Through graduated exposure. And sometimes, through good, old-fashioned "getting back on the horse."
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Fear is a question: What are you afraid of and why?

Originally published in The Barb Wire, May 29, 2011