Why you should not fear the unknown this year

I was recently pondering on the subject of fear and I read an interesting story that has motivated me to face the unknown and not let fear take the best of me.  This story gave me a new perspective. Let me share it with you.

There once was a village that had among its people a very wise old man. The villagers trusted this man to provide them answers to their questions and concerns. One day, a farmer from the village went to the wise man and said in a frantic tone, "Wise man, help me. A horrible thing has happened. My ox has died and I have no animal to help me plow my field! Isn't this the worst thing that could have possibly happened?" 
The wise old man replied, "Maybe so, maybe not." The man hurried back to the village and reported to his neighbors that the wise man had gone mad. Surely this was the worst thing that could have happened. Why couldn't he see this?

The very next day, however, a strong, young horse was seen near the man's farm. Because the man had no ox to rely on, he had the idea to catch the horse to replace his ox - and he did. How joyful the farmer was. Plowing the field had never been easier. He went back to the wise man to apologize. "You were right, wise man. Losing my ox wasn't the worst thing that could have happened. It was a blessing in disguise! I never would have captured my new horse had that not happened. You must agree that this is the best thing that could have happened." The wise man replied once again, "Maybe so, maybe not." Not again, thought the farmer. Surely the wise man had gone mad now.

But, once again, the farmer did not know what was to happen. A few days later the farmer's son was riding the horse and was thrown off. He broke his leg and would not be able to help with the crop. Oh no, thought the man. Now we will starve to death. Once again, the farmer went to the wise man. This time he said, "How did you know that capturing my horse was not a good thing?

You were right again. My son is injured and won't be able to help with the crop. This time I'm sure that this is the worst thing that could have possibly happened. You must agree this time." But, just as he had done before, the wise man calmly looked at the farmer and in a compassionate tone replied once again, "Maybe so, maybe not." Enraged that the wise man could be so ignorant, the farmer stormed back to the village.

The next day troops arrived to take every able-bodied man to the war that had just broken out. The farmer's son was the only young man in the village who didn't have to go. He would live, while the others would surely die.

I found this story very powerful. 

Now, imagine walking into your workplace on a Monday morning. It’s unusually quiet. You notice the gloomy face of the receptionist but you tell yourself; it’s the Monday blues, and besides she never really looks happy .  But as you walk towards your office, you notice that everybody seems down. . What is the matter, you wonder?

Soon enough, you learn that the company you work for is facing challenges and huge layoffs are planned in coming weeks. You knew there were some difficulties but it never occurred to you that your jobs were at stake - maybe, your own job too!

Slowly fear starts creeping in. You see your savings plan vanish. You wonder if you should launch your own business, or whether you need to apply for another job? On the other hand, you may not get laid off, but should you take a chance? What if your position is made redundant?

The fear of the unknown is becoming a reality and you must face it.

I have learned that no matter what we are facing in life, whether it’s financial hurdles, changing a career, starting a relationship or ending one, we tend to know what is good for us but one thing holds us back - a question: What if? 
That is one question we often ask ourselves and before we know it, we hold back our plans until another time… a better time…. then the next time; never really accomplishing anything.

Sometimes we look at our situation and think it is the worst thing that can happen. In the process, we fail to notice the opportunities that change may bring. 

My call to you today is that when you face challenges, remember the wise man’s words: maybe so, maybe not.