Fear is a basic and simple emotion for all animals including humans. It is triggered when we are faced with unpleasant situations which may result in several kinds of loses in life. For every human, fear serves as protective precaution, it allows us to take notice of danger and retreat in time, it serves an additional positive purpose which enables us as humans to identify and study the source of a threat and also protect ourselves better when next we are faced with a similar disturbing situation.
Overtime, something wonderful began happening. The terrors faced by the men in the early days began to lessen in intensity as man gained understanding and control over himself and his environment. This improvement was assumed by many to lessen our fears and improve our confidence but instead, man’s fear worsened due to man’s nature of anxiety. Man started to fear for other things such as his status, reputation, fame, wealth etc.
In the evolution of man’s civilization, a group of journalist specifically in the 19th century in America discovered that if they framed their reports and stories with fear, they would be able to gain the undivided attention of the public. This group of journalist played with the anxiety of the public by shifting their attention to new possible sources of anxiety such as the crime rate, the latest incurable disease, natural disasters, wars etc.
As man’s civilization evolved into the social media world, man anxiety has expanded likewise his fears. The deep sensibility of man’s imagination has given man a perception that he is unsafe in an environment full of dangers, even though he lives in an environment that safer and much more predictable than in the early days.
In actuality, fear is not designed to be a negative emotion, it should function as a stimulant for powerful physical response, allowing man to retreat in time. We must bear in mind that fear should be immediately conquered after retreating because a man who wallows in fear even after retreating might not be in stable mind to reorganize himself and plan ahead for similar situations.
Franklin Roosevelt confronted such an issue when he became the president of U.S.A in 1933. At this time, the country was faced with economy recession due to a great depression that had begun with the stock market crash in 1929. The president was amazed not by the economy meltdown but by the fearful attitude of the public. In his inaugural speech, he said ‘ I cannot ignore the obvious fact the economy was drained but their fears were making it difficult to surmount adversity’. He implored his listeners to remember that the country had faced worse situations such as civil war and natural disaster but they were triumphant because of their pioneer spirit, determination and ability to go back and resolve.
Fear creates its own self-fulfilling dynamics but instead of utilizing the advantages fear brings, most men give into it by losing their energy and will power. The lack of confidence translates into actions that replaces hope with fear. May I assert my firm believe that the only thing we should be truly need fear is the inability to interpret fear in our favor which paralyzes needed effort to convert retreat into advance.