This spiritual path ain't for whimps

"We can use everything that happens to us as the means for waking up." Pema Chodrin
So you have an experience that really touches this vulnerable part of yourself.  Fear arises to defend against the vulnerability.  Whoa. Caught again.  That experience was the hook.  And you took the bait. But when you see that you got caught (again) that's the waking up part.  And when you work with yourself in this way, with a lot of kindness toward yourself and your vulnerabilities, that's the path.  I think the antidote to fear is having the confidence in your own goodness, your own wisdom, to take care of the fearful and vulnerable aspects of being human.  As long as you are alive there are going to be experiences that dangle a delicious hook in front of you. The question is will you take the bait?