That simple word evokes a plethora of emotions in people, me included.

You see, when fear comes into the equation, everything changes.

Fear of what? Failure? Rejection? Pain? Or perhaps, something even bigger than them all?

Fear of fear itself.

Fearing that fear will tear through one’s mental defences and chew its way into one’s heart, whispering discouraging things and spreading its nasty lies.

Bah, humbug.