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One of my guilty pleasures is the action-adventure series Reacher. In a world where so much seems unjust and unfair, Reacher is a superhero vigilante who always gets the bad guys, no matter how impossible the odds are against him. He’s fearless. And I’m realizing part of the appeal is that I’d like to be like him—certain of what’s right, unafraid to act, and able to make my notions of justice and goodness prevail. (Full disclosure: Some scenes are quite violent.)

Yet, I also question whether fearlessness is even a worthy aspiration.If we never feel fear, we have no need of courage. Courage is only possible when we’re afraid—when the outcome is uncertain, when something we value is at risk—and we choose to move forward anyway.

I’m beginning to think wholeness and freedom are better aspirations. Wholeness allows me to make room for fear rather than trying to conquer or deny it. And freedom allows me to feel that fear without surrendering my choices to it.

I can feel fear and still summon the courage, wisdom, and strength of character to move forward with integrity. That’s the consciousness I’m after: not freedom from fear, but freedom from letting it drive what comes next.