Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
by Joyce Dunn
The title is intended to be the "hook" to get you to read this. Why would I choose that? Because it seems to me that many, very many, of us have become addicted to fear. 9/11/2001 kicked it into high gear, but it was there even before that. Some of the biggest money making films are based almost entirely on fear; horror movies, alien invasions, violence of many kinds. TV programs have adopted this same idea. Many shows are based on criminal acts of one kind or another. Then there are the "reality" shows. They focus on fear of failure: being voted out by your companions, coming in last in the race, getting fired, or risking pubic humiliation on stage by judges.
Fear is a powerful tool that can be used by those who have an agenda they want to promote. It's been said that frightened people are not thinking people; if you can make someone scared enough, you can make them do or believe anything. When we allow ourselves to immediately buy into whatever fear is being promoted, we become pawns, unconscious pawns that have no idea we are being used. This kind of fear mongering allows us to believe our fears are valid without ever having to rationally examine them.
Are there things in this world that a rational person should be afraid of? Of course there are, but not enough to justify wrapping yourself in a permanent cloak of fear. That kind of pervasive fear produces goblins and enemies when in fact they are not there. It also allows us to withhold compassion from anyone not in our immediate circle of comfort.
The next time you hear someone warning you of the dire consequences if _______ happens, take time to do some investigating and evaluating. Don't simply accept that what they are saying is true.
The next time you find yourself worrying about something, (because worry is itself a form of fear) stop and think about it. How likely is it that what you are worrying about will happen? What can you do about it, at this moment? What can you do about it without resorting to violence, either physical or verbal?
Last, but definitely not least, find positive things to focus on. There are multiple opportunities every day to notice the positive. Start small if you need to. "It's a beautiful, sunny day." Set yourself a goal of finding X number of things every day that are positive. With a little practice, I think you'll find it easy to move from the small things to the larger positive things in life.
Will all this magically make the bad things in the world disappear? Of course not. It will eliminate many of the irrational fears and produce more rational ways of dealing with the valid fears.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Only one problem, Joyce. Most irrational fears don't respond to rational solutions.Some truth there, Terry. Maybe by planting the seed a few will find ways to move away from the irrational.
Hi Joyce for a minute there you had me scared to open the article to read with that title. Loved it once I took my hands away from my eyesThanks for sharing.Keep wellKacyThanks so much Kacy. Glad you moved past your fear. :)
Interesting article Joyce. Something we can all work on.Thanks for your comments, Brianna,Joyce
I agree that unresolved fear is the big controller - look at how the Catholic church has used it to become such a mega-powerful and wealthy organization!
I love your suggestions on how to move away from fear as the dominating inner culture.
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