Fear has such a nasty habit of freezing us into whatever position we inhabited when first it strikes us senseless. Most often it leaves us in a stance that practically invites abuse of some sort, either from ourselves, or the ones we value the most. At its worst we can find ourselves attacked from both directions at once. Building the courage to shift position can take precious time, but the ability to break free from that trap is something each of us possesses.
The first notion that begins the melting process is the soul-deep belief that we deserve to inhabit an upright posture. Nothing invites attack any quicker than to be bent forward at the waist... so standing tall is mandatory to facing whatever fear has you acting like a willing victim. Once our back is straight, our next hurdle is holding up our head. Unearned punishment brings with it unwarranted shame... neither of which necessarily has a thing to do with reality.
Our worst fears are often simply left over baggage that other people have packed for us when our attention was focused elsewhere. I have found the the best time for anyone to stow unwanted weight into our luggage is when we are happily attending to their needs, while being almost oblivious to our own. In the end everyone involved ends up paying dearly for either the packing, transporting, or whatever is due during the unloading.
To minimize the stress and strain of lifting things that are better left behind, it becomes necessary to examine what we carry and why before we end up with a burden that is impossible to shoulder. We simply need to remember that any fear is always worse then the reality of what will occur if it is faced head on and overcome. And the first step is the only one that is uphill... after that it's all on level ground. Think about it... let it ride... then YOU decide!!!
