Another variation concludes with, “Burn that door”. Relating this sufi advice to the earlier one from A Course in Miracles we can say that the fear is the shadow pointing inwards towards a very great 'light'. The shadow of fear begins at a closed door in the mind. Beyond that door is the light of love, the light of joy, peace, strength and wisdom. The closed door is meant to be opened or burned down, not bottled up even more securely when it presents itself in the form of fear. That is, we are invited by the fear to examine all of our prejudices and opinions to see which ones have been blocking our love from shining forth.

Fear then can be seen as a signal, a signpost showing the way, an opportunity to let go of an old way of thinking and behaving so we can discover another facet of the diamond that is our true Self.

Let me give just one example of how fear is signalling the presence of a great potential close at hand just beyond our conscious awareness. Victor was a third-year psychology student at the University where I lectured who was required by the curriculum to participate in small tutorials or discussion groups. He came to see me for help because his fear of public speaking was so strong that his tongue and jaw were 'frozen', rigid with tension. He was almost unable to speak.

Intuitively I suggested to him that he enrol in a course at Toastmasters, a training facility for developing the art of speaking to groups. Within a few weeks he had graduated fromToastmasters with a top score. He then went on to address ever-larger crowds at the anti-war rallies protesting Australia’s involvement in Vietnam’s civil war. Fifteen years later he was a Queen’s Counsel in the International Court.

So here in the example of Victor we have a clear demonstration of how fear was a shadow pointing inwards towards a great light of oratory skill and leadership. We can also regard the fear as a door which was inviting Victor to enter into the vast unknown of himself, into his untapped and unrecognized potential.

It would seem from the above example that Victor's fear had two aspects:
 He feared that he lacked the ability to speak in public
 He feared that his audience would judge him as incompetent, stupid, irrelevant.

When we regard fear as a signpost pointing towards a hidden treasure we can say that what Victor was really afraid of was:

 That he had an extraordinary ability to speak with great passion, power and elegance to large gatherings
        and to those holding high office.
 That the effect on his audience would be such that he would be greatly admired and, if the occasion required,
         believed and followed as well.

This understanding of the higher purpose of fear is echoed in the words of the great statesman and global elder, Nelson Mandela:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, which most frightens us

Considering the foregoing interpretations we can propose that every one of our fears presents both the incentive and the direction for discovering vast untapped potentials within ourselves.