Refusing to See Fear

I saw this animated clip today, and it really got me thinking. There’s this guy talking to a psychologist, and while they’re having a conversation, there are knives hanging over his head. The crazy part? He can’t see them. The doc throws a mirror in front of him, but the knives are so well hidden they disappear when he looks.

Watch it here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DD9fj4UsCYj/

At the end, the guy just says, "I will keep on helping people, and I won’t fall for being paranoid." That hit different.

It made me realize something—how often do we let fear control us? How many times do we hesitate, overthink, or stop ourselves from doing what we’re meant to do just because we might fail, get hurt, or face criticism? The world constantly throws paranoia at us—telling us to be scared, to play it safe, to assume the worst. And sure, risks exist. But should that stop us from living?

There will always be "knives" above our heads—dangers we aren’t even aware of. But does that mean we should sit still, paralyzed by fear? Or should we keep moving, trusting that whatever happens, we’ll handle it when the time comes?

I think that’s what the guy in the animation was saying. He wasn’t ignorant of danger—he just refused to let it consume him. He chose to keep helping people, keep moving forward, keep living.

The truth is, fear is a natural response, but it doesn’t have to be our default state. We can acknowledge risks without letting them dictate our choices. We can prepare for challenges without becoming obsessed with what could go wrong. Life isn’t meant to be lived in a constant state of hesitation; it’s meant to be experienced fully, with confidence and purpose.

Think about the times you held back because of fear. What did it cost you? Maybe an opportunity, a meaningful experience, or even just the freedom to be yourself. Now imagine what life could look like if you stepped forward without the weight of unnecessary paranoia.

How many more chances would you take? How much lighter would you feel?

We owe it to ourselves to move beyond fear and embrace the unknown with trust in our own resilience. No one has all the answers, and uncertainty will always be a part of life. But the difference between those who move forward and those who stay stuck is the refusal to let fear win.

Maybe we should do the same. Maybe paranoia is just a cage we build for ourselves, and refusing to live in fear is the key to breaking free. It’s a choice, and one that can change everything.

Just some thoughts. Let me know what you think.