ARTICLES & Recommended Reading
The Power of Fear By Ingrid Kaiser (inspired by Robin Sharma)
Have you ever stopped to think about the definition of fear?
Fear in the dictionary -
noun 1.1 - an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.
synonyms: terror, fright, fearfulness, horror, alarm, panic, agitation, trepidation,dread, consternation, dismay, distress
But what if we looked at fear differently for just a moment. What if we looked at fear as an opportunity for self-growth, discovery, strength and personal power?
But before we do that lets consider the origins of fear. To do this we need to go way back to our primitive form and look at the evolution of the brain.
A very basic overview. The limbic cortex or old brain has 2 parts - the reptilian and lower mammal brain. This part of the brain is instinctive and not capable of reasoning. This old brain is connected to glands that release stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol both of which are essential in reacting to dangerous situations. The Neocortex is the new brain –and only belongs to humans and higher mammals. This part of the brain controls higher reasoning and is where intellect lives. And with this we can out think the instincts of our primitive brain.
Back in our caveman days we really needed our primitive brain as we were literally fighting to survive every single day. We had real physical threats to our existence and needed to react quickly in dangerous situations. Now in most parts of the developed world we are not living with those sorts of threats every day. But in saying this consider that our environment as humans has changed and evolved much more dramatically and rapidly than our brain has been able to evolve. As a result we still have a very strong fight or flight response to situations that scare us. That primal survival response serves us well in some situations but not in others. Think of how you might react if you were home alone in the house at night and you hear a noise. It is dark. You are not expecting anyone. Your senses are on high alert and your body has gone into maximum survival mode. Your old brain is releasing adrenaline into your blood steam and blood is pumping at an increased rate to your arms and your legs preparing you for fight or flight. Then You see a dark shadow and what looks to be a weapon. Without question you lash out…and then you realise it is a family member with a bunch of flowers….. but it’s too late.
So you can see that humans have a neurological fear network and are still hardwired for fight or flight. To be human is to deal with fear. On top of this we are also unwittingly taught to fear by those who teach us how the world works. As we grow up we model ourselves on the fears of those who have influenced us.
So when we think of fear we tend to think of things that terrify us or put us in very dangerous situations. But consider other types of fears that present themselves every day in your work and your home and when you are on your own. A lot of fears are driven from a primeval time when you needed to be accepted by the tribe. If you were rejected back then you would surely die. Fears such as -
- Fear of failure
- Fear of rejection
- Fear of not being good enough
- Fear of losing control….to name a few
But in a modern world we can out think the instincts of our primitive brain with our neocortex and as such we can learn from our fears. Our fears can show us where we need to improve and how we can grow. If we take a step back and look at our fears and how they might be holding us back we can use this as a map for self-improvement. If we can increase our awareness of our fears we can understand that we do not see the world as it is but as we are and no human being can say they never get scared.
So in summary, We can embrace our fears and work out what drives us. We can change our self talk and even challenge the notion that some of our fears might not even be real. We have explored the definition of fear as well as other ways of approaching fear in a more positive and courageous light. So in conclusion I would like to leave you with this quote from the Great Nelson Mandela -
“Courage is not an absence of fear. Courage is feeling the fear and paying attention to it”
Recommended reading
Who moved my cheese - Dr Spencer Johnson
The road less travelled - M.Scott Peck, MD
The alchemist - Paul Coelho
The 7 habits of highly effective people - Stephen Covey
The compound effect - Darren Hardy
The drink less mind - Georgia Forster
Losing my virginity - Richard Branson
The five languages of love - Gary Chapman
Rebuilding when your relationship ends - Dr Bruce Fisher
The monk who sold his ferarri - Robin Sharma
You can be happy no matter what - Richard Carlson PHD
Don't sweat the small stuff - Richard Carlson PHD
Don't sweat the small stuff for women - Kristine Carlson
Raising boys - Steve Biddulph
The road less travelled - M.Scott Peck, MD
The alchemist - Paul Coelho
The 7 habits of highly effective people - Stephen Covey
The compound effect - Darren Hardy
The drink less mind - Georgia Forster
Losing my virginity - Richard Branson
The five languages of love - Gary Chapman
Rebuilding when your relationship ends - Dr Bruce Fisher
The monk who sold his ferarri - Robin Sharma
You can be happy no matter what - Richard Carlson PHD
Don't sweat the small stuff - Richard Carlson PHD
Don't sweat the small stuff for women - Kristine Carlson
Raising boys - Steve Biddulph