Glen from Blacklist Taught Me: The Power of Being Unafraid

If you've ever watched "The Blacklist," you know it's a show full of complex characters, moral grey areas, and unexpected twists. Sometimes, the most profound lessons don't come from the heroes, but from the most surprising corners. Today, I want to share a takeaway I got from one of the show's quirkier associates: Glen Carter.

Glen wasn't exactly someone you'd hold up as a moral compass. Red Reddington himself was pretty clear about Glen's... let's say, extensive list of flaws. He was maddening, a hedonist, chauvinist, liar, and a cheat. Yeah, when Red Reddington points out your flaws, you know you've got a few.

But despite all that, Red delivered a eulogy for Glen that stuck with me. It highlighted something truly remarkable about him, something we could all learn from.

Red's Revelation: More Than His Flaws

Before we dive deeper, take a moment to watch this clip of Red's eulogy for Glen. It's a decisive moment that drives home the key insight we're exploring:

Blacklist S08E06, Time - 38:24

As you saw (or as Red explained), in that eulogy, he didn't focus on polishing Glen's questionable virtues or downplaying his many vices. Instead, he honed in on one central, powerful quality: Glen's complete and utter lack of fear.

Red noted that Glen was unafraid of so many things that consistently hold most of us back, things that build walls around our potential and keep us playing small.

Inventory of Fearlessness: What Glen Was Unafraid Of

Here's the list of things Red said Glen was unafraid of. As I heard them, I couldn't help but think about how often these very things give me pause, or maybe you too:

• He was unafraid of judgment or being wrong.
• He was unafraid of friendship or romance.
• He was unafraid of bad jokes or good laughs, good times or bad timing.
• He was unafraid of consequences, impossible tasks, or even danger.
• He was even, Red noted, unafraid of Red himself.

The Weight of Our Fears

Think about that list for a second. Unafraid of judgment? Of being wrong? Of consequences? These aren't small things. These are the fundamental anxieties that trip us up daily. We hesitate, we overthink, we hold back from speaking up, from trying something new, from being vulnerable, all because of the potential downsides or what others might think. We're afraid of being judged, of failing, of facing consequences. It's incredibly common, and it's completely understandable.

Red's Simple, Profound Takeaway

Red's conclusion about Glen was simple, yet profoundly insightful: Glen had embraced life without reservation, regret, or remorse. He just lived. He wasn't held captive by the "what-ifs" or the fear of external validation. His lack of fear enabled him, in his unique way, to be and to do.

The Lesson for Us: Borrowing Fearlessness

So, what's the takeaway here? It's a humble reminder that while striving to be a good person is essential (and yes, maybe try not to be a liar or a cheat!), there's immense, often untapped, power in shedding the fear of just being yourself and pursuing what you genuinely want. Red wished more people were unafraid like Glen. And honestly, thinking about it, I get what he meant.

Maybe we don't need to embrace all of Glen's less desirable traits – let's leave those behind. But taking a page from his book specifically on fearlessness? On not letting the fear of judgment, being wrong, or consequences dictate our actions? That feels like something that could be a game-changer in navigating our lives and pursuits.

Conclusion: A Call to (Fearless) Action

It makes you think. About the things we self-censor or the actions we delay out of fear. If we could borrow a little bit of Glen's particular brand of fearlessness, what could we achieve?

So, here's a question to ponder :

What are you unafraid of today?