This sermon has been written by and published for Rosalyn J :
The Hero: Afraid
“The adventure that he [the hero] is ready for is the one that he gets” -Joseph Campbell.
This month we are talking about Recklessness, Yet Responsibility and today I want to talk about the fears that come with taking on a new role or responsibility and how to work through them.
My mind has been occupied by the idea of knighthood for a week now because I know that as I work on more of my training, I get closer and closer to that role. Each of my entries beginning on the 7th of November has been working on one of the fears I have about Knighthood and my role as a Jedi. I’ve written down some questions I have asked myself during these lessons:
1. Who am I? What roles have I been given by others and how are they affecting my concept of self? (Identity)
2. What do I feel like I need? What am I seeking and why? (Tao 1)
3. Who am I seeking it from? (Acceptance)
4. What is learning? (Tao 41)
5. What is useful and beneficial and what determines it? (Tao 11)
6. How do I deal with doubt and fear of failure? (Doubt)
The fact is: I’m afraid I may not be a good enough Jedi Knight when the time comes. I’m scared I won’t know what to teach or how to teach it. Afraid that my apprentices won't want to learn what I have to impart. And afraid I might break my solemn vow and cease to live my life as a Jedi. I’m afraid of a lot of things right now. This is a time of transition for me offline as well. I’m about to leave school (a role I have been in since I was 5 years old) with a professional degree and become a leader in my field. People will be depending on me and I am afraid I might let them down.
I speak with such candor because I don’t think I am the only one who shares these fears and doubts. Not just here at the TOTJO, but offline as well. In school or at our jobs. A feeling that no matter how much training we do, we’ll never be ready when the time comes. Afraid we won’t measure up. So I’d like to share with you some advice I am going to use in my own life.
Look Back: When push came to shove, have you met challenges head on even though your knees were shaking? Eventually did you overcome them?
When we have fears like this, sometimes its hard to remember some of the things we have done, some of the obstacles we have overcome, but these are important to remember, because they hold the key to the courage we need in any situation we are facing right now. We’ve had trials before and we have overcome them. The same can be true for the ones we are facing now.
Ask yourself: Whose standards are you trying to meet and why?
Lots of fears and doubts can stem from our desire to meet others expectations. Sometimes this may be unavoidable (as with a teacher or a boss), but sometimes its not. Sometimes we place an unnecessary burden on ourselves because we are trying to be what others “want” us to be, not what is true to ourselves, not what we want to be. So, examine your goals and the motives for them and decide whether they are truly yours. If not, maybe its time to discard them.
Remember: Our ally is the Force
I truly believe that life presents us with opportunities consistent with our ability. The Force aids when and where necessary. Obstacles come our way because we can learn from and overcome them. As Mr. Campbell said in the opening quote “The adventure that he [the hero] is ready for is the one that he gets”. Bring faith to where doubt exists and press on. You have what you need, even if you don’t know it.
Recall that: “We have not even to risk the journey alone, for the heroes of all time has gone before us…”
There are those who walk before us, there are those walking beside us and there are those walking behind us.Fear is not a new feeling just felt by us. Everyone has been afraid before, but imagine if they had let fear stop them from doing what they knew they had to do? We’d be in a lot worse shape if that were the case. We are Jedi and no one ever said this would be a cake walk, but if we really want to talk about recklessness and responsibility, its reckless to leave others behind, to cower in a corne, to not do what we can and should do as Jedi because we are afraid.The dragon roars loudly, it breathes fire, its fangs and claws are sharp, but you wouldn’t be there if you couldn’t slay it.
I’d like to leave you with this quote from Marriane Williamson:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
May the Force be with You
