The True Nature of Fear: Uncovering the Illusion
January 28, 2023
“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”
Fear, often perceived as an innate response, is, in reality, not our default setting. It primarily serves as an early warning system designed to signal clear and imminent danger. Intriguingly, the link between this response and our lived experiences has minimal relevance to leading a fulfilled life.
If something stands between you and your success, move it. Never be denied.
John Appleseed
When we start to view our feelings of fear as merely the result of transient thoughts, the substance of these fearful thoughts becomes as irrelevant to navigating our lives as the shape of a cloud is to an airplane’s ability to fly through it.
In the pursuit of a fulfilled life, fear is neither an obstacle nor a guide. Instead, it’s an occasional distraction that may temporarily lure us into an illusion. Sometimes, fear may surface; other times, it may not. The belief that it’s necessary or beneficial to identify what we’re scared of and take action arises from an outside-in misunderstanding. This notion erroneously suggests that external factors can influence our mental state and limit the infinite creative potential of the mind.
Consider the following:
- The perceived impact of fear is primarily influenced by the amount of thought you associate with it.
- The instant you attempt to link a specific circumstance or thought to a feeling of insecurity or fear, you transform that circumstance or thought into a “thing” that demands attention. Allowing your fearful thoughts to flow freely reveals the inherent “fearlessness” of the mind.
- A fearful thought carries no more valuable information about the world than a thought that evokes curiosity or amusement.
Understanding the true nature of fear and grasping how our inner world really works offers freedom and paves the way for a life brimming with peace, joy, and clarity.
