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The apprehension of endings: To combat uncertainty, many people try their best to simply eliminate it. How? This might include obtaining insurance policies, getting a degree for a better job, networking with people to advance your career, etc. However, a 20^th century thinker referenced in this article makes an interesting point: “One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end.”

Accept what is known: In order to free yourself from fear, accepting the end of something is key. In fact, the real root of what we tend to be most afraid of is actually fear from the known. When we’re attached to something, we fear its end. This can include health, our career, relationships and changes in societal rules. You can get past the stress that comes with this fear, though, by learning to embrace endings. Keep in mind that nothing stays the same forever, and at the end of the day, there is no need to fear something you in fact know will happen.

Embrace, but prepare: I love the sentiment of this article and make it a point to truly embrace this thought process in my own life. However, this doesn’t mean I don’t prepare for the worst and take measures to reach my goals. We do this and we also recognize that if it doesn’t work out exactly as we planned, we will have the mental capacity to embrace the new world we find ourselves in.