Fear is one of the most primal emotions of man. Over the ages, like for
all other living creatures, it has helped mankind survive and grow. However, as
mankind evolved at a faster pace than other creatures, he learnt to start
controlling his fear. He learnt that rather than react instinctively to fear,
if he rationalised and took decisions, there were more benefits in it. He
observed that things are not always as they seem, and fear at times can be
misleading. While in a primitive state, fear may be all about survival, in the
case of modern man, fear has taken the form of our insecurities, self doubts,
apprehensions, suspicion. Fear is saying ‘yes’, when I want to say ‘no’,
because I cannot risk losing a relationship or the benefits that I derive from
it. Fear is also when I want to do something new, but a voice within me tells
me that I’m not good enough for it, or people will laugh when I fail, which
makes me give up my dream and stick to the conventional. Fear is when I cannot
trust, those around me, and even myself. It is amazing to observe, how much
fear dominates our decision making process. As an experiment, for one day,
pause before every small or big decision you make, and ask yourself, ‘Am I
making this decision because I believe in it, or is it because I fear
something?’ Watch your decisions change, as you shift from a decision of fear,
to a decision of choice. All fear is fear of the unknown. Fear dominates
because we don’t like dealing with uncertainity. Our risk taking ability is
diminished, and we dislike the tag of failure. We want predictability, and so
we stick to the tried and tested. This is fine as long as we are satisfied with
the present, and do not have too many expectations from the future. But if you
are looking to grow and become more than what you are at present, you will need
to conquer your fears. You will need to experiment with new behaviours which
will change the reaction of those around you. You will need to accept the fact
that you will be wrong many times before you stumble upon the right way of
doing things, which will take you to the next level. The only way to conquer
fear, is to do what you fear the most. Once you do it, the fear is gone, and
what you are left with is choice. You can choose to do it again, or not do it.
But the fear is gone! As we start, one step at a time, conquering our smaller
fears first, and then moving to the bigger ones, we grow in self confidence and
conviction. We realise that most of our fears are exagerated imaginations. Even
when we went wrong, the consequences were not as bad, and when we did hit the
right behaviour, the dividends were tremendous. Thus, slowly, though fears
still and will always exist, there is an equally strong growth of self
confidence and belief system that helps us grow and explore new possibilities.
Fear then becomes a useful tool, that prevents us from being rash and brashful,
and we use it to prepare things that may go wrong. But they no longer stop us
from experimenting, innovating, and following our dreams. Fear always operates
out of a vacuum, and that vacuum can be filled with our convictions and
beliefs. When we believe in a value or a principle, we act on it regardless of
the consequences. Fear then becomes irrelevant, and is conquered. Mankind has
evolved and progressed, guided by the light shown by the few who dreamt,
believed and showed us the way ahead. They too struggled and fought their
fears. As it is said, the biggest battles are fought, not on battlefieds, but
in the hearts and minds of men. I wish you, victory!
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