Universities, schools and large libraries have a very positive effect on me – my own school days couldn’t change that. I love the bustling importance, the knowledge of centuries, eras, different approaches. Everything is there, everything can be discovered. It is organized, sorted, literally accessible and made comprehensible.

And so it was that, due to an event at a high school, I spent my waiting time reading my way through the history of the school’s achievements, displayed in pictures and trophies. Above the gymnasium, my eyes fell on this poster and I probably wouldn’t have noticed it much if I hadn’t had time, no internet reception and no book with me. The word “COURAGE” caught my eye. It’s one of those words that are the same in the two languages I use but are pronounced differently. And the explanation “put your dreams in front of your fears” immediately grabbed me. Fear…

There is a statistical statement that 98% of the things people are afraid of are unlikely to happen. That sounds reassuring at first. But the problem is not the 98%, but the other 2%. Because some people who have already found themselves in the difficult remaining 2% of this equation with their own experiences often no longer feel so safe.

Fear is so diverse, irrational and can be limiting. And here is this statement: “Put your dreams in front of your fears”.

And that says everything, acknowledges everything that fear can be and do. And I love this statement so much because it describes a possible way – a perspective – to be free.

Because this statement does not deny that some fear is there – may be there, will probably arise from time to time and is very individual – but that dreams – or a belief in one’s own strength, in success, in a kind universe – can be stronger if I put them before the fear.

Almost as if the dream wanted to calm the fear: “It will be okay – just follow me”.

I don’t know if this school is aware of the potential impact of this poster or if most students, teachers and visitors just walk past it (maybe it shouldn’t have been hung so high?) without even noticing it. And I also don’t know if they only made these statements in relation to sporting events or challenges.

But I wish that those who sometimes carry their fears in front of them and can’t get past them, or can see that they notice this word, that they read the explanation and that they can let their dreams take precedence. Courage is when you go anyway – so they say – holding on to your dreams is a nice idea.

Just a thought…