The real wisdom here isn't that fear blocks us—anyone knows that—but that fear itself becomes a reliable compass pointing toward growth. Canfield suggests fear isn't an obstacle to bypass but an announcement that something worthwhile lies ahead; the feeling is almost diagnostic. When you catch yourself hesitating before a difficult conversation or a creative risk, that discomfort is less a warning sign and more like an arrow. A person who avoids public speaking might recognize in their dread an indication that mastering that skill would genuinely matter to their future.