Have you ever been afraid?

Of course, it’s a silly question – everyone has experienced fear. The problem is that many people are defined by it.

So, what is fear? It’s defined as “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.”

The elements I want to focus on are the “real” versus “imagined.” These terms are tricky, philosophically speaking. For the purpose of this exploration, we can define “real” as something objectively true; a rattlesnake, for example. “Imagined,” therefore, can be defined as something subjectively true; a moving shadow making someone think they saw a rattlesnake. Here is where perception factors in: if we perceive something as a threat, we will experience fear, even if there is nothing “real” to fear.

The problem is that, on many levels, we are conditioned to be afraid. Our parents teach us to fear falling, hitting our heads, hot things, strangers, and more. As a result, we are habitually conditioned to operate from a place of fear. We are more inclined to perceive something through a lens of fear than through a lens of curiosity. In that, we miss the here and now. 

It would be impossible to argue that one can simply end fear; however, one can argue that it is possible to observe how and when we are operating from a place of fear and projection. This, in itself, might change the way we experience fear.

So, take a minute. Be careful. Slow down. Check in with yourself. If you are going to spend time thinking about what could go wrong, think about what could go right. This is what everyone who takes big risks has to do. 

Think of a skydiver. There’s no way they’d jump off that plane if they thought the parachute might malfunction. They don’t have time for fear; they just jump. 

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