“Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.” William James, considered the “father of American psychology,” wrote those words.
They are a central theme in a book I’ve been re-reading by author and philosopher John Kaag on how James’ writing and this concept helped to save his life.
James’ point was when we choose to believe in something – for James this was the potential and beauty of life – the decision to believe helps to create and even launch a life worth living.
Kaag then takes James’ insight and applies it to biology. He writes, “if you think about a cell, the only time it reaches perfect stasis or equilibrium—‘perfect balance’ as the gurus might say—is when it is dead. Life happens on the move.” In other words, while fear paralyzes us, belief moves us towards all the potential and promise that await on the other side of faith.
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