How to Deal with Fear
“People fear what they don’t understand and hate what they can’t conquer.” – Andrew Smith
People that know me, know that I am good for reciting this quote often. But after a conversation with one my Instagram followers today, I was inspired when going back to this old adage. If people fear what they don’t understand, then naturally one can conclude that knowledge eliminates fear. But that does not always work. You can fully understand a lion and still run when you see one standing in front of you or prepare to fight. So, if knowledge isn’t enough, what is?
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” - John 4:18
Am I saying that telling the lion you love them will prevent you from being eaten? Of course not. However, there are probably some people you have run from because of your not understanding anything about them. Perhaps there has been an experience or two that you’ve looked at and went in the opposite direction because you’re not used to that type of thing and therefore you don’t trust it. People run from things they don’t understand all the time! Not only that, but sometimes we go a step further and through our ignorance, begin to hate that thing, person or situation. This is this source of contention among races, religions, genders and more.
Fear incites the desire to evade threats both known and unknown. As long as you keep your distance, that thing will always maintain its weight in fear because you have assigned fear as its value. The danger of allowing fear to compound itself in your life is deadly. It can prevent your chances at any form of life in relationships, career choices, even your physical state can be affected. The only thing that compounds itself as dauntingly as fear does, is love. It’s not hate – as hate spawns from ignorance which is a source for fear. If you want to change the value of the things you fear in life, you must engage in a spirit of appreciation for the opportunity to grow and become better for yourself and that opposition. Love is the most effective weapon you have against fear. Love brings life to all things. “Perfect love” embraces all things, offers pardon for our faults and experiences the unknown as opportunity.
Perhaps you have fears about going back to school – love yourself enough to invest in yourself regardless of your fears.
Maybe you’re afraid of dogs, cats or some other animal – let your appreciation for learning about new things and respect for others, create an opportunity to learn how to best engage with that animal.
You could be afraid to fall in love again because of your past hurt – cover your past in the forgiveness love provides and apply it to the offender and yourself. Love yourself enough to always make love available to you.
Remember, you want the best for yourself and love is the best anyone can give. It’s not always making something work the way you want it to, but learning how it works and embracing it as something that makes your world better – that goes for people too 😉.
Learn to love in all things and all things will show love back to you.
Own Your Actions / Create Your Experiences™ @MrFrankieWilson