I used to have a whole laundry list of fears. Not so much anymore. About 20 years ago, they sort of all went away. Most of them. But everyone is different. Some people fear everything. Some people fear little.
Did you know that we are born with only two natural fears? It is true. We are born with the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds.
This is a commonly cited idea in psychology. These fears are often considered innate. That is all because they are thought to be crucial for survival. And here is the other thing. These fears are observed even in very young infants.
Babies demonstrate a startled response to sudden loud noises. This is thought to be a protective reflex.
And then there is the falling thing. When infants are placed on a surface where they perceive a drop, they show signs of distress or fear of falling. This shows up in babies even before they can crawl or walk.
However, beyond these innate fears, other fears and phobias are generally believed to be learned or acquired through life experiences. For instance, fear of spiders (arachnophobia), heights (acrophobia), or social situations (social anxiety) typically develop over time. And these fears are usually based on based on individual experiences. They also might come from cultural influences and personal interpretations of events.
We are perceptive creatures, we humans. Some of us more than others. So. The process of acquiring fears can be influenced by various factors, such as direct negative experiences. They might come as a result of observing others’ reactions. Or sometimes, they might rise up in us because of media sources and storytelling.
But the bottom line is that our fear responses are conditioned through exposure and reinforcement.
I would have to say that everyone is probably afraid of something. If someone tells me they have overcome fear, I wonder about the truth in that. It is a normal human response. We are prewired for fears.
I think that overcoming certain fears can be a valuable pursuit. But. Whether or not it’s necessary depends on the type of fear and its impact on our lives. Not all fears need to be overcome, especially if they are reasonable and protective, like the fear of dangerous situations or the instinctual fear of harm. These fears keep us safe and are essential for us to survive.
These days, I don’t fear things like bugs, or snakes, or even heights.
The things I fear mostly come in human form. And many of those forms are in power.
I learned this fear. Recently.
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“Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.” – Pema Chödrön
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“Fear is a teacher. It shows us where we need to grow.” – Mary Trevor
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“To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
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