The Black Dog

In letters to his wife, Winston Churchill used to describe his bouts of depression as "the black dog."
The black dog population is numerous. Depression afflicts millions and yet it is not the only black dog out there. Here are some that I've noticed:

• Fear of success
• Fear of failure
• Fear of criticism
• Fear of loved ones being harmed
• Fear of unrequitted love
• Fear of abandonment
• Fear of being dependent
• Fear of being "found out"
• Fear of embarrassment
• Fear of being hustled

You can see the common factor. Gavin de Becker wrote of the advantages of fear in his excellent book, The Gift of Fear, and yet for many of us, fear is a debilitating force in our lives.

It often is well-disguised in cloaks provided by our own imaginations. Caring, loyalty, caution, deliberation, industry, and even love are draped around fear to hide its presence. We do so because staring boldly at fear presents two choices: surrender or confront. Neither option is enjoyable.

But each is more honest than the game of denial.

And confrontation is the first step toward victory.