Fearless

Beyonce and Jay Z have many songs together, but one of my favorites is titled “Nice”. Confidence exudes out of their pores and it is inspiring every time I listen because they were just like us. Two black people in America who came from little means, built their own careers through hard work and determination.They revealed to black america what is possible when you have no fear. And then they fell in love and built an empire that is unbreakable. They’re legacy will live forever making them immortal.

In the first chorus Jay Z’s confidence is transparent and there are a few lines that stop me in my tracks every time.

“What would you do, you knew you couldn’t fail

I have no fear of anything, do everything well

I have no fear of jail, I was born in the trap

I have no fear of death, we all born to do that”

I take a huge sigh of relief when I hear those words. The reality of the inevitable sets in and puts my mind at ease. We’re all going to die. We don’t know when. We don’t know how. And guess what…

we do not get to choose.

Now, you can look at that line and see something completely different. You can feel helpless and hopeless. You can worry about a part of life that is not within your control and let it direct every decision you make. Chaining us to an anxious mental prison that values comfort. Or it can release you. Freeing your mind, allowing exploration, to go do IT. Whatever IT is. Your heart desires something. Maybe it’s a vacation to a place you’ve never been that you saw on TV. Maybe it’s starting your own business. Whatever the case may be, go do it. There are no do overs. It might be scary and it may take a lot of work, but laying on your deathbed with regrets? Saying to your family and friends, “what could’ve been”. Reminiscing on things you should have said or should have done? Well, I’d say that’s more terrifying than the obstacles you’ll have to overcome to do IT. In this case, be like Jay Z and Beyonce. Have confidence and speak it into existence everyday you wake up. And when those hurdles come, remember. Death is inevitable.

-ML