Why does fear have such a hold upon all of us?

BY STEVEN KASZAB

Fear has been the one pivotal element within all our histories, both personal and nationally speaking. It is something that excites, invites, repeals, and manipulates us all. An emotion, a state of mind, something demonic or perhaps divine. At the moment of your birth to the end of your days, this thing called fear can wrestle your life away.

We live in a world shaped by fear. Our personal response to this fear has shaped our families and nations too. There is the fear of loss; not being good enough, not achieving the expectations of others, or not being good-looking enough. How do I look? Does this make me look fat? Apply some of these questions to yourself. Why am I a doctor and not an artist or perhaps why did I call an election when there was no need? Why did I invade Panama, Afghanistan, or Vietnam? Why do nations jail their citizens? Fear of losing perceived control: attack, terrorism, and criminality. Why did I have an abortion? What did I fear? Perhaps I would lose my freedom.

Why do I hate or love others? Did I do these things because I was raised to do so? Were my parents and neighbours such an influence upon me that I became this way, whether good or bad, a person trying to live a life of meaning?

Do I fear the unknown, uncommon, unique among us? I knew a person who hated overweight individuals. A gut-wrenching hate of someone he did not even know. He grew up overweight, and through sheer perseverance and self-struggle, he became a fine specimen of a man. The fear to become what he once was, or perhaps the distaste of people he thinks are not struggling enough themselves. Did they make the effort?

Racial, cultural, social, economic, and political fears shape us daily. Fear can be spontaneous and infectious. Fear often creates monsters, those who find expression of their personal fears through struggle and possible violence.

Fear creates saints also. Religious people are possibly the most fearful of our neighbours. Why so? Fear of failure if they commit sins before their maker; to them there is hell and heaven, and clear rules telling them how to proceed through life. These rules are controlling or freeing depending on how one looks at them, but the end result of going to heaven to be with God is dependent upon fear.

The greatest gift you can give another is to espouse this thought. Be free of fear’s tentacles, through wisdom and common sense. Think before you act. Surely the wise person can choose what benefits themselves and their neighbour too.