Be afraid, be very afraid

Allow me to introduce you to my latest special interest: Yokai, or supernatural beings from Japanese folklore.

There are hundreds of Yokai, but the particular one in this stunning woodblock print by Kuniyoshi is a 'Gashadokuro'. It's a giant skeleton composed of the skulls of warriors who died on the battlefield.

Apparently, it wanders around at 2 am (good to know) to attack and then eat humans.

Scary stuff.

And that's what I'm here to talk about.

Fear.

I want you to ask yourself these two questions:

"What am I afraid of on a day-to-day basis? What do I worry about? What stresses me out?"

And after you've made that list, take a good look at this impressive skeleton, and ask yourself:

"What am I afraid of NOT doing, experiencing, creating, and giving before my time on this interesting planet is up?"

The small things we're scared of tend to centre around being accepted by our tribe (workplace, community, etc.).

"Was that presentation OK?" "Did I make a fool of myself in that meeting?" "Has my paper been properly fact-checked?" and so on.

They help us get things done (hello deadline and ironed shirt!) but they also distract and take us away from doing what truly matters to us.

So I would say to you today:

'Be afraid, be very afraid - of the right thing. Be afraid of forgetting what it is you truly want to do.'

Image: Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi; signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi, woodblock print, Japan, 19th century, V&A