Choosing Love
Fear is sneaky. It doesn’t always show up as panic or dread.
Sometimes it comes disguised as hesitation, self-doubt, or that little whisper in your head that says, “Who do you think you are?”
Left unchecked, fear contracts us. It makes us shrink, delay, or cling to what feels safe.
Love, on the other hand, expands. It opens our hearts, gives us courage, and connects us to something greater than ourselves.
When Fear Called the Shots
I remember early in my career being invited to speak on a stage.
Everything in me wanted to say yes. I knew I had something to share.
But the voice of fear was loud: “You’re not ready. People will judge you. What if you forget your words?”
So I said no. On the outside, I told myself it was “practical” to wait. But inside, I felt the contraction—the tightness in my chest, the heaviness in my spirit.
I knew I had abandoned myself in that moment.
Months later, another opportunity came. The same fear rose up. This time, I listened to it, but I didn’t obey it.
I asked myself, What would love choose? And love said, “Say yes.”
I did. And even before I stepped on stage, I felt something shift. Love was leading. And love gave me the strength to do what fear told me I couldn’t.
Why Love Expands and Fear Contracts
Fear narrows our perspective. It keeps us focused on what could go wrong.
Love widens the lens. It reminds us of what could go right.
Michael Singer writes, “You’re either trying to keep things from happening, or you’re trying to make them happen. People actually live that way, and it’s why they’re in pain. But the moment you stop, you can walk through the world with an open heart.”
Living in fear feels like bracing all the time—waiting for the impact.
Living in love feels like softening—trusting that you’ll be guided through whatever comes.
A Reflection for You
Think about an area of your life where you’ve been hesitating.
Maybe it’s a relationship that needs honesty. Or a dream you keep putting off. Maybe it’s a decision you’ve delayed because you’re waiting for the “perfect” time.
Take a quiet moment and ask: If fear weren’t in charge here, what would love choose?
Write down what comes. Don’t censor it. Sometimes love will ask for rest. Sometimes it will ask for boldness. What matters is not eliminating fear, but giving love the louder voice.
Living the Question
Fear will always try to get the last word. But you have a choice.
Every conversation, every decision, every crossroads is an invitation to listen for the voice of love.
And each time you choose love, something in you expands. You stand a little taller. Trust yourself a little more. Feel connected to the truth that’s always been inside you.
Love expands; fear contracts. The question is never, “Will fear show up?” The question is, “Who will I let lead?”
