Fear is a liar. Fear manifests like a deep knot inside your stomach that tells you to be quiet when you should speak. To hide when you should be open. To lie when you should tell the truth. It often hangs around with shame. Fear uses shame like a sword to cut us into a controllable shape. Fear is a spirit that pushes against our own sense of self. Fear is humanity's oldest enemy, right along with pride. Fear tries to trick us into escapism, denial, anger, self-righteousness, self-pity and immobilize us from any creative action or dignified kindness, even to ourselves.