The Presence of Fear

Fear; arguably the most intense and visceral emotions a person can experience. The feeling of being afraid is an evolutionary trait that has allowed our own species as well as many others, to deal with threats and in turn survive the perils of this planet. However, out-of-control fear can actually become extremely limiting to our ability to move forward and make decisions in life. All of us have certainly faced this dilemma at one time or another, it’s an occupational hazard of existence. From slight apprehension to full blown terror, we must each learn to cope with these feelings in our own way. 

Several Millions of years ago, it is theorized creatures developed the capacity for fear. All species may not have the same type of fears felt by humans, but all animals do have a fear response. This involuntary process occurs when we are exposed to an actual or perceived threat. Also known as the Fight or Flight response, the reaction involves increased heart and breath rate, tightening of muscles and blood vessels, etc. in preparation to either flee or deal with the danger in some way. While most of us no longer need to worry about things like lions, tigers and bears (oh my!) at the grocery store, the physiological response to fear is the same.

Each of us have our own unique set of things that frighten and cause us anxiety, some are very common and others quite specific. We do not choose our fears; they can be inherent as well as conditioned by our own negative experiences and the experiences of other people. There is no shame in having fear, it is a natural part of life. As Nelson Mandela once said, "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

Overcoming fear can be a rather daunting task though, it requires overriding both biology and deep-seated thought. It can be a bit like climbing Mt. Everest for some, especially those living with things like PTSD, anxiety disorders or serious phobias. We can never fully know the battles raging inside the minds of others. I also strongly believe that we should support one another when it comes dealing with our fears—none of us should have to do it all alone. 

Personally, I hold a great deal hope that each of us has the ability to improve, to find more peace with what scares us. Whether it be spiders or failure, sharks or public speaking, heights or even death; we can learn to be less afraid. Much like the Fight or Flight instinct in nature, we can either face our fears or run from them. Not everyone is able fight their fears, so to speak, but we can all better understand why we are afraid. The classic Francis Bacon phrase certainly rings true, “Knowledge is power”.

One of the most persistent and debilitating fears that we have as a culture is that of change. It can be terrify to let go of the familiar, to take that next step forward. The interesting thing about fear is though: the more we conquer it, the more freedom we unlock. As we persist through life, the presence of fear surrounds us but it does not have to become us.