Are you afraid of what tomorrow will bring? Do you fear just getting up in the morning and facing another day? Are you afraid of losing a relationship, or maybe your job? Michael Pritchard says that ‘fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed’. The darkroom he is talking about is the inner recesses of the mind where you gather all the terrible, negative things that you fear may happen to you.

This darkroom is where you go when things are tough and you are fearful about the outcome. You store all of your thoughts here about how bad things may become in your life. And you visit this darkroom often, reviewing the potential disasters that are looming in your future. The thoughts you are harboring in your darkroom is your way of punishing yourself for being inadequate, unable to perform at the level you think you should be able to perform. Bertrand Russell said ‘fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty’. Your darkroom is your form of cruelty to yourself.

So how do you stop developing negatives in the darkroom of your mind? You bring all of your problems, inadequacies and fears into the light! This means bringing some hurts to the surface and acknowledging they exists. It means admitting to yourself that you are not perfect and that you don’t need to be perfect. It means living up to your commitments. It means that you must stop portraying yourself as a victim and take responsibility for actions.

Everything seems scary in the dark. Come out of your darkroom and shine some light on your problems. They will be easier to see and easier to solve.

- Joe Freeman