It’s with a heavy heart that my fingers hit the keys to write this article. I feel I’m hardly qualified to be discussing a tragedy such as this, as the scope of devastation for the victims, families, and any related parties must be seemingly endless. Quite frankly, I don’t feel equipped to be simply relaying details of the event, as there are far more reliable sources than I, and not much that I could say that you don’t already know. As the threat level increases from Severe to Critical, a move that predicts more attacks related to this one, there is no doubt much to be afraid of.

During World War II while the British government was preparing to receive air raids on some of their largest cities, posters with the words “keep calm and carry on” could be seen plastered on walls as an effort to tend to morale. What if, however, the stiff upper lip advocated in these posters is more harmful than beneficial? That is to ask, what if acknowledging your fear can be more effective than avoiding it?

Fear is the natural first reaction to terror, and undoubtedly one of the strongest we have when it comes to threats such as these. With tragedies of this caliber, it's not uncommon that we jump straight to action. Some of our acquaintances, long time friends, and relatives jump onto their digital platforms to advocate for immediate action governed by retaliation and vitriol. When unattended, fear can evolve behind our backs into something much worse for rationality. Often, we put this new terrible thing into the world, unchecked, and it yields harmful consequences. Like a ship captain taking the helm alone driven only by passion, our fears can drive us solitarily. When one or only a few factors motivate us to do something, we lose our sense of objectivity.

I’m afraid of what could happen, and that’s entirely reasonable. As an adult with volitional emotions and concrete intentions, what method of dealing with fear would truly be more effective for you? A) insisting that you had no fear at all and moving on, or B) admitting you’re instilled with (even a little) fear of something, and knowing that you won’t let it drive you. The second option of the two is far more intentional, effective, and rational. To stiffen your lip and ignore your fears will only encourage them to grow in the dark and turn into other ideas like anger. As an adult human, I can tell you that none of my best decisions have come from anger alone. Acting in hate will be the result of pretending you’re not afraid, whereas taking an honest minute with yourself to say “I’m afraid, but I won’t let that govern me,” will allow you to act from a place of strength and resolve. All this to say that, it’s okay to be afraid. I’m afraid too. Fear is the first step in solving a problem, and the efficacy of your problem-solving strategy will depend entirely on how you interpret your fear. My heart goes out to anyone affected by this tragedy and hope that their fears and grief be met only by aid, empathy, and kindness.