Fear is a powerful force—but what happens when it’s sitting in the driver’s seat of your life?

In this episode of Filter Optional, Chico and Shannon West unpack how fear quietly shapes our decisions, relationships, finances, parenting, faith, and sense of purpose. Drawing from personal stories, recovery wisdom, and decades of experience in counseling and coaching, they explore how fear can protect us—or imprison us—depending on who’s in control.

Through vivid examples—from being handcuffed in the back of a squad car to future-tripping about money, parenting, and success—Chico reframes fear as something to understand, not obey. Because fear doesn’t just influence behavior; it can drive us places we never intended to go.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How fear becomes a false driver that limits clarity and growth 

The difference between future-tripping and intentional planning 

Why the stories we tell ourselves often fuel fear more than facts 

How confession, community, and service help drive fear out of the driver’s seat 

Why “fear not” isn’t a suggestion—it’s an invitation to freedom

This episode challenges listeners to pause and ask an honest question: What fear is driving me right now? Because awareness is the first step toward reclaiming control—and choosing a better direction.

Takeaway:Fear will always exist, but it doesn’t get to decide where you’re going. When you investigate your fear instead of obeying it, clarity, peace, and growth follow.