The Unknown

"There are things known and things unknown and in between are the doors." – Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison's quote alludes to the idea that our perception shapes our reality. Inspired by Aldous Huxley's book *The Doors of Perception*, Morrison suggested that if we could cleanse our perceptions, everything would appear infinite. This infinite unknown is often what scares us, leading us to cling to the comfort of the known.

The unknown inherently brings uncertainty. We don't know what can happen tomorrow or even in the next few minutes. This thought can be terrifying. Despite our efforts to avoid uncertainty, it is an unavoidable aspect of life. People often seek refuge in religion, fortune tellers, or any source that provides ready-made answers. Yet, humanity's progress relies on those who venture into the unknown, bringing back insights and ideas that improve our collective existence. Staying within the confines of our comfort zones stifles our growth as individuals and as a species.

Everything we desire lies beyond our comfort zones. When nothing is certain, anything becomes possible. As Jim Morrison implied, we need to open the doors to the unknown and transform it into the known. Remember, everything that is now familiar and certain was once an unknown.

The real challenge is not the unknown itself but our fear of it. Fear creates attitudes that lead to procrastination, poor time management, and task avoidance. Facing our fears, whether conscious or unconscious, generates anxiety. Anxiety is an uneasy feeling we try to avoid, often through self-deception. We've been conditioned to see fear as a weakness. Instead of acknowledging our fear, we rationalize our avoidance.

Psychology tells us that humans are born with only two fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. All other fears are learned. For example, some people fear snakes while others keep them as pets. Some fear losing their jobs while others quit to start new ventures. This demonstrates that fear is a construct, a perception.

To overcome fear, we must reframe it. Ask yourself, apart from fear, what else is there? The unknown can be exciting. Consider the explorers who ventured into uncharted territories, making remarkable discoveries despite not knowing what lay ahead.

Reflect on the things you once feared but now handle with ease. How did you overcome those fears? Sometimes you hesitated, sometimes you took the plunge, and sometimes you were pushed. Regardless of how, you eventually did it. What was once unknown and frightening is now familiar and rewarding. I firmly believe that when you throw your heart over the fence, the rest of your body will follow.

Quotes and sayings have a profound effect on me. When I feel afraid, I remember one in particular: "The bird has no fear of the branch breaking beneath it; its faith is not in the branch but in its ability to fly." When you strengthen your wings, the fear of the branch snapping beneath you dissipates.