“The Only Thing We Have to Fear…”

“..the only thing we have to fear is fear itself —nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror…” Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke these words in 1933 during his first inaugural address to the American public. Though he spoke about a very specific event, the Great Depression that began at this time period, these words are true and powerful in the context of life, as well. Fear is a strange thing, one of the most powerful emotions generated by the human psyche. Both a driving and a stopping force, fear can initiate the most obscene acts of inhumanity, or repress the most promising of individuals from achieving their true potential. Every day inhibitions which prevent possible advancement of self are constant reminders of how prominent a force fear can be.

Often, we don’t realize how significantly fear can impact our lives routinely. What prevents you from talking to your crush? Is it that you know you’re inadequate; or rather, you fear their rejection? What stops you from quitting that dead-end job you loathe? Is it that you know you don’t have the skills required for a more substantial job; or instead, you fear the uncertainty that awaits beyond unemployment? Why do you not wear an outfit you love? Is it that it’s uncomfortable to wear; or do you fear the reaction of those around you?

Every day, we may find ourselves doing, or not doing, things out of fear. You fear your boss, you fear abandonment, you fear rejection, you fear solitude, you fear embarrassment, you fear attention. How much of ourselves do we subdue out of fear? How much do we hold back because we are afraid?

Fear is an emotion created by our brain to protect us from things that may cause us harm, but, in actuality, can be one of the most harmful things to our success and progress as an individual. Throughout history, governments and organizations have used fear to intimidate and persuade people into doing unspeakable and unimaginable things. People suppress one another for fear that the oppressed may surpass their oppressors, and the latter will become obsolete. Hitler, for example, controlled his country through fear. Those who did not bow to his whim and obey his commands faced torture and death, not just for themselves, but also for their family. The White Supremacists of the early 20th century fought the rise of Civil Rights through fear tactics and intimidation. But even their actions themselves could be considered to be driven by fear; fear that if equal rights were achieved for all races, then Caucasians would become an obsolete minority themselves. A quote from Star Wars actually explains this concept best, “Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering.” And so, fear drives us. It pushes us in ways we could never push ourselves, it is a force that quickly consumes us and is difficult to break free from once one becomes enveloped in it.

Fear is an interesting concept, to which many associate simple ideas or tangible objects to. Phobias of spiders, the dark, other people. All these things are tangible and understandable objects that can be seen, felt, tasted, touched. But do we ever ask ourselves why we are afraid of these things? Why do we fear a tiny arachnid that wants to do us no harm, why do we fear the absence of light, why do we fear social interaction? The whats are simple enough to identify and label; arachnophobia, nyctophobia, and sociophobia. But the whys are a far more illusive matter. They say it’s therapeutic to face your fears, and indeed that may be true, but I feel the understanding of why one has these fears is just as essential, if not more so, in order to overcome them. So, why do we fear these? What is it that causes us to react so severely to seemingly normal things? For some, its events or people in their lives which create the fear to develop. But for others, it seems almost like a latent emotion which is discovered in a sudden revelation. It’s odd how something meant to protect us, often presents itself in such an irrational and detrimental manner.

We all have fears, even the bravest of individuals find themselves filled with dread at the idea of certain situations. And yet, we all treat those who react to their fears as if they were inferior and weak. Yes, it does take a certain inner strength to face that which terrifies us. However, we all experience times and moments where fear overtakes us and panic controls our minds. No one is immune to this reaction, as it is an instinctual reaction that has kept us alive since we emerged from the ancient primordial scum. It is something one must wonder, is fear a learned trait, or, instead, is the ability to overcome fear a learned trait? Do we develop fear, or do we develop the ability to overcome said fear? We often condemn those who react to their fears as weak, but it takes a certain strength to accept and admit that you’re afraid. Surely, one must accept one’s fears before they can be faced. So, who is stronger, the individual who admits they’re afraid or the individual who denies it?

Indeed, we often find ourselves more concerned about the what if’s, rather than the what is. Fear impacts our lives more than we realize, but it is not what we fear that defines us, but rather what we do in spite of our fears. My therapist and I had a conversation today, about fear and how it dictates our lives; how the majority of our limitations are not a lack of skill, knowledge, or capability, but the presence of fear. After having a discussion pertaining to her regrets of not being more outgoing in college, and making greater social connections, she said, “You know, the reality is I spend 6 days a week talking to people about their fears. But the biggest fear people have, is to live their life.” This statement struck me with its complete truth. It is very common to let opportunities go by from fear of their outcome. The hardest, and most important, part of fear is being able to take that first step to overcome it. The experiences we will remember most, will not be ones that occurred out of fear, but what we did in spite of our fears. One can never grow as an individual if one does not step outside of their “safety box”. What we achieve, and how we grow, in spite of our fears and doubts, will always be our life’s greatest accomplishments. You only have one opportunity to live the life you have now, and it is too easy to allow yourself to watch it pass by idly. If you permit yourself to be ruled by your fear, then, in the end, you will suffer all your missed experiences. It is important to remember; fear is temporary, but regret will follow you forever.