The Fear Of Self

Fear and caution are linked. But so too are fear and panic.

Fear urges us to consider risk. It prompts us to think about consequence and possibility. It helps us protect ourselves. Fear is the salt in our psychological diet…a little is necessary but too much can be damaging.

Too much fear can result in panic…confused and disconnected thought…and panic can be the gateway to delusion and paranoia.

Fear can either be a friend or a foe depending on our understanding of it. It’s an individual’s responsibility.

Fear is an inbuilt response that must be both considered, preferably before it’s encountered. If we are not aware of possibilities it’s far less likely we will be able to control reactions when confronted.

The inherent problem so many face is that our greatest fear is fear of self.

While the rest of the world and all its people can be blocked out by choice and attitude, the one person seeking recognition and acceptance that we are unable to escape is the person that we are.

There may be some situations where ignorance is bliss…the issue of self is not one of those.

Living a full and honest life hinges on knowing who we are, why we are, what we think and why we think it. That can be quite daunting but it should not be feared.

The ultimate challenge in self examination is deciding whether or not we are prepared and willing to change those things we find in our head and our heart that we do not like….attitudes that fall short of our own standards…opinions that lack substance.

It’s only by honest and regular introspection that we can monitor our progress; determine where we are and measure that against where we’ve been and where we want to be.