F.E.A.R.

Fear has a purpose. It is part of our warning system. Sometimes we have a premonition that something bad is about to happen. Fear is a warning device, an alarm that lets us know to be careful. Used in proper measure, fear protects us. It’s only when fear takes over and flavors every area of our lives that the emotion becomes detrimental.

Perhaps you’re familiar with this acronym for fear. False Evidence Appearing Real. When fear takes over our lives, it is often because we have dwelt on the emotion for too long. We see villains all around us. We listen to reports of crime, and we suspect that we will be the next victim. According to Merriam-Webster the opposite of fear is unconcern.[1] To keep fear in proper balance and only use it when it’s necessary for our protection, we need to find a balancing emotion. Unconcern is similar to contentment, and how do we develop that characteristic or emotion?

Yoga and meditation are certainly positive exercises, but we also need to add our belief that the world is orderly and controlled by a Force that is greater than ourselves, and that nothing will happen without the Divine Spirit’s consent. This, of course, must also be coupled with our belief in a trustworthy and loving Higher Power. Perhaps you are also familiar with this acronym for fear: Face Everything And Rise. Unconcern or contentment can fill us with peace when there is an absence of fear, but often, in order to reach that state of unconcern we find that we must face everything and rise above it.


[1] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fear