Part Two: The Unknown
The Unknown. Anything we do not understand we naturally fear. What we fear, we judge as evil, undesirable, impure, and confusing (at first...)
Many fear the unknown, the void, what is to come, the mysteries of life. When you look at the unknown, a lot of the time we are taught it is dark and dangerous. There is an endless amount of opportunities for failure. If you dive into the depths of the darkness, you will have a grueling time climbing back out. Farewell, and best of luck.
The unknown is all about your perception and what you think it entails. We fear more of what we project into the unknown based on our previous experiences, than the unknown itself. We live in a world where there are infinite possibilities and anything can happen because everything is unknown. For example, if you are working at a job and it is immensely draining and are contemplating the idea of leaving. You fear the unknown. You could fear that once you leave that job you will lose your house, your car, or your security. If you are in school or college and you have to take a test, but you dread taking it. You fear the unknown. You could be imagining failure and fear in sharing what you have learned. You could be fearing a future that's unknown, but could bring success and joy.
A little over 7 years ago, I was in a car accident. I had an old Buick LeSabre. The phrase "it drives like a boat" comes to mind. It was clunky, but drove smooth. Thick and weighty and more protective than many current cars. I was hit on the drivers side by a teenager who was not paying attention to the road. The car was caved in far towards my legs. It was totaled. If I did not have that Buick, I would have sustained far worse injuries than I did. But after that incident, I had a hard time driving far or near highway ramps. I was filled with fear of the unknown. Is someone going to crash into my car again? Am I safe? Are my passengers safe? I would drive back roads to get to places. Then I realized how much time was being taken out of my day because of my commute. How much money in gas I was wasting. How afraid of the unknown I was with this daily activity tethered to it. To fear. Over time I was able to conquer the fear of the unknown in this certain situation and gain back my power and control. I was able to adventure, drive long distances, and use my curiosity rather than fear.
The unknown will always be in your experiences. It will always be an obstacle you have to overcome. Being open to look at the unknown of a situation in a positive perspective with curiosity and love, rather than negative restraining emotions, gives you a wider spectrum of chances and possibilities that can come from that situation.
If you leave your job, you have a chance to move to a smaller place where you can have an occupation you are excited about and live in happiness. If you go take that test and be determined to pass, you can have the option for a successful future. You can be that teacher or leader that you want to be. There would be the option to fulfill your desires. Be passionately curious. Curiosity is the most powerful thing to own and is the secret to pure bliss.
"Human curiosity, the urge to know, is a powerful force and is perhaps the best secret weapon of all in the struggle to unravel the workings of the natural world."
-Aaron Klug