Culture of fear

It is said that people act either out of love or fear. Everything we do is based on one of the two, and at times, a combination of both. How is our shadow related to our fears? Is fear as necessary as the shadow? Can we survive as a species without it? How do we communicate with our fears? Are they negotiable? How do our fears relate to our issues? How do fear based-decisions affect our lives? More questions? Concerns? Spiritual insights?

Fear sets us free....

Re: Fear sets us free....

 Do we just have these emotions.. well, we do have something in between, although I know of noone who lives without love. I have to think (what a great question is offered to us! ) Is there life without fear? Well, we are animals, I don't think that we can remove ourselves from fear.. can we appreciate fear when it moves through our lives, and take meaning from its prints? What in fact, does it teach us? Which are negative and which are positive? Does it ever hurt us to face a fear? It seems like it could never, especially if this means just feeling it, not necessarily taking action on it. And I know the power of looking within our fear to what it really reveals about our soul and our yearnings? I wonder if anyone can share what they have learned from their fears about themselves

Re: Fear sets us free....

Live without fear? Since fear is also a survival mechanism and thus an inherent part of us, it becomes more a matter of how does fear serve us? If we are fearful of falling over the cliff if we get too near an edge, is that bad? If we see a bear and feel the need to run, though not a smart thing to do, is that bad? Fear can protect us. Feel the hairs stand on the back of your neck when you are around a person and you immediately sense that person means you harm.  This too is good. What is bad is when fear takes control, like with the various phobias. Fearing a black widow spider, is good, but fearing a daddy-long-legs may not be. We hear the term, we must face our fears, indeed we must, at the right times. Fears that need to be overcome are the fears of rejection, fear of failure, and others similar to these. We have to look beyond the fear. Say to yourself, I may be rejected, but what if I do? What harm will it cause? Ah ego will take a hit, but what if I perservere? Think of the writer. How many manuscripts must they send out to numerous publishers until they get that first book published? They suffer rejection after rejection, but perservere until they finally get that hit. What of love? If we fear rejection, then we never open our hearts and miss the opportunity to be one with another being. We must look beyond the rejection and just say that it must not have been meant to be. For when we do get beyond that fear, we may just find that soul mate we have been looking for.
At this time, I waver between elation and fear. Why? Because I must go on a vision quest. Sometimes the fear of being alone in the woods, in the dark, scares me. The idea that I may receive a vision or commune with the spirit world, in some ways elates me, then it also brings in the fear. In reading about shamans of many cultures, I have read that at some point you have to journey to meet your dark side. Now that is something I fear. As they say though, knowledge is power, and hopefully, reading what I have will prepare for that event.

Re: Culture of fear

   I think that my fear comes from my ego. My ego would have me seperate from everyone and not connected. My ego fears change and growth. Don't do that what will people think.
Don't step out of the box you don't no what will happen. I might lose control. I might not be perceived as normal. I might be rejected and then who could possibly love me.
 As I become more aware of my Higher self the connected self the self that is love and acceptance I feel less fear and more love. Growing and learning.
Thanks everyone for sharing there thoughts on fear. This is one of my big issues and I am still discovering more about my fears all the time but as I work through them I feel that I am changing and learning and able to give and receive love.

Chuck

 

Re: Culture of fear

I agree with Selrahc in many respects, and Whitewolf as he describes the fear of instict, which is completely understandable and necessary.  The ego fear, though, is what we're really looking at here.  Fear of rejection, humiliation, the unknown consequences of our actions, acceptance.  Becoming aware of yourself as you experience these feelings and looking at them objectively - right there in the moment…practice it.  I've by no means overcome my own overblown fears, which indicates to me that I am still too wrapped up in my own ego.  I need to continue to remove myself from it and see myself as I am, and recognize that I am one of many growing and experiencing these same emotions/thoughts/fears.  Deep, deep breath…and acceptance and forward motion.  That's what I'm trying to wrap my hands around.  I get it, lose it, get it…