These are just a few of the motivational quotes that have appeared in my Twitter feed regarding fear.

Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will. If you want to conquer fear,

don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. There is no

illusion greater than fear. Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of

fear. For many people, I'm sure these quotes are incredibly motivating, but for me

well I just don't buy into the whole concept of conquering your fears. Fear can be incredibly paralyzing and I know I know I'm being

literal about these quotes but I just think that fear requires a more nuanced

approach than pulling up your tube socks and bulldozing through it.

I'm Andrea Ferretti and this is episode four of Yoga Land.

The truth is, having lived through panic attacks

and depression in my 20s and breast cancer in my 40s,

I know a thing or two about fear.

There's what I think of as fear light, you know, fear of spiders, flying

squirrels, fear of public speaking. And then there are the heavy fears, the fear of

leaving our drug-addled verbally abusive boyfriend

because you have no savings and nowhere to live, or the fear that comes up when you

or someone you love is facing a life-threatening health condition.

Either way, what works for me is to approach fear directly, but also tenderly.

Running away from it or trying to brazenly blast through it

will rarely lead to resolution,

and you'll potentially miss out on the learning

and self-reflection that come with working through difficult emotions.

...