A Journey Beyond Fear!

 Fear: A poem by Khalil Gibran

 

I suppose one of the things about learning about fear, is that there is always more. I’ve known some of this in my life. Fear of failure, fear of rejection or fear that we’re just not enough – fear is a common current that runs through all of our lives.  The kind of fear that tenses my body. This fear is deeply rooted in our human psyche. We fear change because it threatens to dissolve the boundaries of who we think we are. We fear losing control, losing our sense of self, and becoming part of something we cannot comprehend. Recently I came across the Poem “Fear” By Kahlil Gibran However, Gibran reminds us that this fear is an illusion.

Khalil Gibran's poem ‘Fear’ is a simple and short poem, but it has a powerful message useful to our life.In this poem Khalil Gibran expresses his philosophical views to overcome fear in our lives. Through this poem, the Poet sends a powerful message to the generations of human beings who fear losing their Identity, fear to accept the changes and fear to face the challenges of life.

The poem “Fear” traces a river’s ultimate journey into the ocean The trembling river standing at the edge of the ocean is a perfect metaphor for the human experience of facing the unknown. It is a moment of hesitation that we all encounter when life invites us to grow beyond the boundaries of what we know.

The River's Journey:

 

The river’s journey mirrors our own life experiences, filled with challenges, growth, and familiar paths to overcome this fear, the river must take the risk of entering the ocean. It cannot go back; the journey forward is the only option. This act of courage is where transformation begins. By embracing the unknown, the river discovers that it does not disappear; instead, it becomes part of the ocean.

The Ocean's Vastness:

The ocean symbolizes the unknown, the future, and the potential for growth that lies beyond our comfort zones.

 In this merging, it finds a new existence, a greater wholeness, and a profound sense of belonging. The little river has come a long way. She recognizes now that those paths she took all her life were easy. Those routes looked difficult then, but now looking back, she realizes with pride how she traversed. We look back at our lives and see the paths we have taken, the challenges we have overcome, and the beauty we have created.  It’s about realizing that when we take the risk to move forward despite our fears, we open ourselves to new possibilities and greater depths of experience.

Gibran's message is that the river doesn't disappear into the ocean; it transforms, becoming part of something greater. This mirrors how embracing the unknown can lead to personal growth and a But Gibran’s wisdom turns fear on its head. He teaches us that entering the ocean is not about disappearing but about becoming something infinitely greater.

Overcoming Fear: The river's decision to merge with the ocean highlights the importance of taking risks and embracing change to overcome fear and unlock new possibilities.

The river does not vanish; it transforms. It merges with the ocean and becomes part of something boundless and eternal. This is a lesson in trust; trusting the process of life, trusting the unknown, and trusting ourselves. We cannot go back. When we take the risk to merge with the unknown, we do not disappear. We become. And in becoming, we find that we are not small streams or separate rivers but the ocean itself; limitless, eternal, and whole.

As we journey through life…all the hesitation, the decision making, the looking back on what should’ve been or could’ve been. And yet some decisions are already made for us. We go forward not backwards. The river has no choice but to join the mighty sea, we don’t have a choice but to move forward and change what we feel need to be changed, embrace the rest and at the same time honour our past accept the gift that is the present and join the mighty sea that is the future. A tribute to overcoming the grasp of Fear...and moving...Forward...with Trust and Confidence!!