Fear. A Friend Or Foe?

Fear is an unusual, restless and anxious aspect which triggers mind about the potential threats in the surrounding, be it physical or emotional. Talking about physical and emotional fear, there is quite a lot of difference between them. We shall talk about it later. Fear is a natural way of indicating the need for self-preservation. The conventional process of fear is simple. When danger is sensed, fear is triggered, when the sensation of danger decreases, fear subsides gradually. In extreme cases when fear does not subside, it results into serious issues like weakness, fatigue, etc. This is in case of physical damages. Fear can also impend emotional stability and phobic anxiety.

Whenever a threat for our physical well-being is sensed, then it is the physical fear that we experience. This response is also known as “fight or flight” response, where the mind instructs and prepares the body to either enter into a combat or run away. Whereas emotional fear refers to fear in your own mind, irrespective of the reasons. Let us talk about emotional fear. We have the ability to control our mind as well as fear associated with it. It is as simple as mastering in something when you repeatedly do it. The more scared you feel; the scarier things will seem. A simple example for this oxymoron would be, the more you are scared of exams, the scarier it seems. Again, these are all emotional contradictions that are being created by us. If they are created by us, they can also be manipulated by us. Thus, handling fear is an art that need to be precisely learnt by practice. Certain things to keep in mind about fear.

Fear is all right

Fear is what makes us respond to stimuli. Thus, fear is just all right and it is not unfavourable.

Fear is not completely instinctive

Fear is a mixture of a part of instinct, a part of awareness and a part of teachings. For example, fear because of pain is instinctive whereas fear of certain situations and people are taught or known by awareness because of negative experiences or past associations that might have been vicious.

Fear and danger may not go hand-in-hand

Sometimes, fear is a part of our imagination even when there is no potential threat whatsoever. This relates to our imagination of future happenings and future incidents. When we think that the outcomes of our imagination are unfavourable, fear is automatically triggered.

Fear is inescapable. The way you administer fear is what makes you capable of manipulating it for your own conscious use. Consider fear a friend, it is your friend. Consider it a foe, it will pull you down. Fear partly aggravates your stability; you have everything to do with your fear. Fear is the final hurdle.