When we know we have a certain fear, we can face it, can tackle it, can try ways and means to minimize it and even make it disappear altogether from our life or at least learn to live with it. When we are unaware of our fears, when we deny them, refuse to see them, ignore them, they are free to exert their baneful influence undisturbed, and we are the losers. To be afraid is supposed to be something disgraceful, and that may be why we try to cover up our fears not only before others but all the more before ourselves, since it is in our eyes that we want to preserve our own image as courageous, fearless and unafraid. We do not want to lose face before ourselves, and so we put up a bold front, draw up our chin and proclaim ourselves to be unaffected by common fears or apprehensions. Meanwhile the fear has gone underground and in the dark plots effective attacks on our defenseless citadel. It is to our o1vn advantage to give ourselves the freedom to look at our own fears without shame or misgivings, rather than artificially pretend we are not afraid of anything. We are afraid, and we should be the first to know it and own up to it.