What makes this observation cut deeper than simple positive thinking is that it identifies *where* our attention actually travels—most of us don't consciously choose fear, yet our minds drift there like water seeking low ground. Tracy's real claim is that fear isn't the opposite of desire but rather its most insidious competitor for the same limited mental real estate. Consider someone learning to drive a manual transmission: the drivers who fixate on not stalling the engine do precisely that, while those genuinely focused on the smooth coordination of pedal and clutch find it comes naturally. The distinction matters because it's not about denying fear exists, but about which story you're actively composing in your mind.