Is Fear Ruling Our Lives?

I can’t exactly answer “yes” to the above question about fear, but uncertainty and what might be described as abnormal caution definitely are emotions that I deal with all too frequently.

I’m not a “devil may care” type of person and probably try (too hard perhaps) to avoid risky situations.

A recent article I read about fear – and what to do about it – begins with the premise that there are four assumptions about fear that we all have.

According to the author, it’s those assumptions that keep us stuck.

The writer spoke with Dr. Lissa Rankin who he notes had a newly published book on the topic of fear and how it affects our physical health, how our society perpetuates an unhealthy relationship with fear, and how we really do have the power to heal ourselves, once we understand what we fear.

The article quotes Dr. Rankin's description of what she calls the "Four Fearful Assumptions":

1. Uncertainty is unsafe.
2. I can’t handle losing what I cherish.
3. It’s a hostile universe.
4. I’m all alone.

She indicates that when we live under these assumptions, we are constantly in a scarcity mindset, worried about losing what we have and always expecting pain and suffering (even if it’s all in our subconscious).

However, if we choose to let go of these fear-based assumptions and instead live by the Four Courage-Cultivating Truths, we can dramatically change the power our fear has over us. They are:

1. Uncertainty is the gateway to possibility.
2. Loss is natural and can lead to growth.
3. It’s a purposeful, friendly universe.
4. We are all one.

In the article Dr. Rankin admits that it may be easier said than done to let go of the fear we have nurtured our whole life, but she says this shift is the key to healing ourselves from a fear-based lifestyle (and all the physical effects of it).

She states that when we make the choice to choose our mindset, and trust in the good that will come from a positive one, our fear turns into courage and our entire lives can change.

These ideas don’t sound particularly new or controversial to me. Embracing the positive and deflecting our attention from negative subjects and situations has long been advised as ways to conserve our energy and lead successful, productive lives.

Maybe the key is to recognize when our mindset is weighed down by one of the “four fearful assumptions” and immediately try to turn that internal state around.

What do you think?