A common approach to dealing with fear amounts to suppressing or ignoring it, eventually leading us to avoiding the situations in which the fear manifests itself. By doing so, we give it the power over our decisions and actions, making us align our future with our past and sacrifice our freedom of choice. Alternatively, we can acknowledge the fear and its influence on our lives, and to eventually face it.
Being exposed to the fear, we will surely be affected by it — yet this time by choice. This exercise is neither about getting to the final destination, nor about mentally overcoming the fear before stepping into the void. It is about accepting the fear, staying present, and observing how it affects but does not kill us, how it leads to temporarily unpleasant yet manageable consequences. Our fear is, therefore, our best companion, who is meant to guide us toward liberation.