Fear Is the Root Of It All - Thoughts

 The fiction vein appears to be blocked.  *Weary face*  This is more or less a ramble - just general, mind you, nothing particular in my life has brought it on - so turn away now if you'd like.


    Anger. Jealousy. Rage. Doubt. Dig around a little, and you might find that fear is at the root of these basic human emotions. So I tend to characterize fear, not hate, as the opposite of love. We fear that something will be taken from us; that we will be shamed, set apart from the rest, atacked for our vulnerability, or abandoned. The unpleasant feeling of fear then tends to make us upset/angry. Even wars seem to be grounded, for the most part, in fear.
     It is the bane of relationships, be they with family, friends, or lovers. Do my parents love my siblings more than me? Do people only befriend me because they want something? If I open my heart to him/her, will they hurt me, cheat on me, leave me for someone else? Will they demand more than I can, or want, to give?
     Our days are often filled with decisions made on the basis of fear. Maybe it goes something like this: I will take on extra unpaid work because otherwise, I might lose my job. I will not tell my partner something because they might be angry and turn their back on me. I will not ask my friend what is wrong, because I am convinced that whatever it is, it is my fault, and every time I pick up the phone my stomach lurches. I will not try because I might fail, I will not speak up because I might be made a fool of, I will not take that chance because I might get hurt. How many of you have come home, at some point, sensed something askew, and had that panicky, heart-thudding ohgodwhathaveIdonewrongthistime feeling? Wouldn't it be lovely to be with someone who never engendered that response?
     Fear is a natural response, meant to protect us from injury and death. It allows us to avoid dangerous situations, creatures, and toxins. Sometimes it goes into unnecessary overdrive, as in phobias and various OCD behaviors. Sometimes it is the result of past events. Sometimes it is a product of our upbringing.
     To be courageous is not to be insensitive, careless, or even fearless. To be fearless is to be oblivious; to be courageous is to recognize the obstacles and dangers, and to attempt to surmount them.
     We are all capable of far more than we know. Have faith in yourself, first and foremost; love yourself, love others, love life. If you fall down, get up, dust yourself off, and go about your business. The cat does it all of the time. Examine your anger, your jealousy, your sadness; acknowledge it, and then try and put it away. It does no good to clutch it to your chest and nurse it like a child. Revenge or spite will only corrode your own spirit in the end. Ask yourself what fear it stems from, and then address it as best you can.
     Learning to take risks, and accepting defeat as well as success, can enrich your life immensely. Go out, and be courageous. And don't forget to love.