Fear is the result of the inability predict our environment and form a response.

It's been a long time since I've been able to see every star in the sky

Up at the summer house I got into a bit of a routine of walking the dog while Christina and the girls nod off together all in one bed.

Out here in the country it's pitch black and deathly quiet.

The first time I went out years ago I stepped with care, walking at a slow pace, placing my feet carefully only half listen to my audio book.

Heart beating a little bit faster than normal, hearing every little noise, forcing my eyes to work as hard as they could to see something but ultimately feeling totally alive.

But the first walk goes fine so the next night is a little more relaxed.

... and the next more relaxed again.

Each night the enjoyment that encouraged me out there grows and the natural and instinctive fear diminishes.

We often talk of fear of the dark as irrational, but it’s one of the most rational fears imaginable.

Fear is literally the result of the inability predict our environment and form a response.

But each time we step into a fear and allow ourselves to stand outside of it enough to witness both the fear and the pleasure...

We allow ourselves to see the empty nature of the fear and upset the balance of fear and aliveness to favour the aliveness.

Stress doesn't go away, not from the things that really matter, otherwise they just wouldn't matter anymore.

Fear in itself isn't irrational, it is merely highlighting the presence of uncertainty.

Seek certainty, slowly, and we find freedom.

Breathing deeply, holding shoulders back, standing tall we let it flow through us and slowly we learn to feel alive to conflict and connection, to criticism and care, to a racing heart and a calm one.

And for this we experience life more deeply. Isn’t that what we’re here for?