The worst thing in the world is fear. Whether justified or not, it’s the source of most of the bad things that happen in the world.
The most widespread kind is “unjustified fear”. Fear of not being loved, fear of not being good enough, fear of not wanting to upset anyone.
These few examples are the root cause of the majority of unpleasant and dangerous behavioral disorders. Any kind of overly loud, narcissistic, overly funny, arrogant, nervous, insecure or overly pleasing behavior is just an expression of a vulnerable soul, trying to cover up the fear – from themselves as well as from others.
Justified fears, fear for life and safety, of discrimination, harassment and emotional or physical attacks are obviously worse. They ruin or end lives, scar people in the short or long term and are simply connected with a huge amount of stress. Often the source of these fears lies with individuals or groups who suffer from the aforementioned fears. Any racist or violent outburst is an attempt to degrade another individual or group, in order to feel superior.
This brings me to fear as an instrument of power, to influence or control people. Whether it’s by threats of police punishment, by the prospect of purgatory or the more subtle methods of demonizing parts of society or predicting negative future scenarios. Fear is most effective to keep people under control, to keep them quiet – or the opposite, to trigger an aggressive outburst.
Fear is powerful, we react angry or sad, depending on our constitution. Fear is an instinct of survival that can’t be avoided or controlled completely. Fear tastes bloody and makes every organ in our body contract, it paralyzes and leads to desperation and identity loss.
The opposite of fear is trust. When we believe in ourselves, others and happy endings, we are free to let go. When we feel trusted, we feel empowered and strong. When we feel strong, we don’t need to proof it to others, to seek external confirmation or to suppress others for our own perceived benefit.
However, trust is an investment, it’s a risk you take as a first mover. You might get disappointed and hurt, by those who are not ready, not strong and independent enough to reciprocate your attitude. Trust can’t be tested: if you don’t trust first, you’ll never reap the benefits of an unconditional relationship, a collaboration where others surprise you and exceed your expectations.
It’s possible to create an upward spiral. Be bold, confront your fears, counter them with trust – and over time we’ll all be rewarded.