Fun lies in not being afraid even while being afraid

Following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

Questioner : I am following the path of my heart. But there is so much fear. So, how to face that fear and survive? How to face that risk of survival?

Acharya Prashant: Continue living in that fear. Just don’t give up!

Fear will be there. Fear is the price that you are paying. Continue paying that price.

Listener 1: But when you choose the path of what you want to do, it should give you Joy. It should not give you fear.

AP: Joy is living in fear without being defeated by fear.

Who said that joy means the absence of fear?

Please note the difference between these two.

Absence of fear is one thing and freedom from fear is another thing. Freedom from fear means being untouched by fear even when fear is there. Fear will be there but you will not be defeated by fear — that is called freedom from fear.

If you are wanting absence of fear, that will not come. You will be afraid. Yes, of course, the intensity of fear may go down, but kindly do not wish for a day when you experience no fear. Every cell of this body is conditioned to be afraid. So fear will be there.