If you stop and think about it, what is scarier \u2013 the fear of the truly unknown or the fear of knowing precisely what could happen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heck even haunted houses are pretty predictable but perhaps that\u2019s why they\u2019re scary \u2013 you know something will jump out, you\u2019re just not sure when. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What we know about life that is so terrifying is that it\u2019s fragile and fleeting, that anything (or at least a great number of things) can happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe the fear we experience is because who know too much. It\u2019s not the unknown that is scary \u2013 it\u2019s the what-ifs. We are forced to live out our daily lives concerned about all of the things that may or may not actually happen; instead of living in the here and the now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My grandpa would always say, \u201cWe\u2019ll cross that bridge when we get there,\u201d meaning let\u2019s focus on the road in front of us and deal with what comes when it arrives. Otherwise you miss the scenery around you while worrying about something you can\u2019t even do much about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This same philosophy applies to thoughts about your patients and whether they are going to accept treatment or bring up insurance or be happy with their new smile or still be in pain. None of that stops you from doing the dentistry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On a personal level, you can think about all of the negative things that could go wrong in your own life and then you\u2019d locked yourself inside all day doing nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Halloween is such a fun holiday because it is filled with fake fright for entertainment. As I said last week, loosen up, have fun, and enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But life is filled with real fright and fear that\u2019s not so entertaining. If you let those terrors and dreads overwhelm your thoughts, you\u2019ll cause even more stress and angst resulting in far greater danger and risk than anything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, I say don\u2019t be afraid of the what-ifs. Instead, while being aware and remaining prepared, stay engaged in the positives of life. The more you go thinking about being afraid the more afraid you will be. It\u2019s not a surprise that the most paranoid people I know tend to have the most reason to be paranoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just some food for thought. Halloween is fun because there\u2019s nothing to actually fear but that doesn\u2019t mean life has to be any scarier. Choose fun not fears and treats not tricks of the mind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"