Comments on: The Ten Evils (Part Three)

By: deRuiter

deRuiter — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:24:44 +0000

After a while I think a person can do too much navel gazing.
Fear is an important component of survival. Paralyzing fear of many things is bad, a healthy fear of danger is a good thing. I’m afraid to get between a black bear sow and her cubs, so I don’t and I remain safe, watching them from a safe distance.

By: almost there

almost there — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:42:29 +0000

I agree with valleycat1, way off base in your explaination of bravery. It has nothing to do with choosing a job one likes vs higher income. How can one equate living frugally to bravery? Perhaps one day you will do a brave thing or two, Trent. I know a man who recently died. He spent the last 11+ years without a tongue and with a trach. He spent the last 2 years on oxygen and the last 7 months enduring terrible pain from cancer. He did this so that his spouse would be able to receive his pension for as long as possible. That is bravery. I doubt I could do it.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:55:52 +0000

I think using frugality as an example of bravery is taking it a little far. An example of acting responsibly and consciously, sure. But I don’t consider living as a responsible adult is brave of me, just as making it through surgery & chemo is brave (other than forcing oneself to show up for the treatments) – it’s called doing what’s set in front of you to do.

And fear would keep you from standing that irresponsibly close to a cliff’s edge in the first place.

I think both these two ‘evils’ would better if prefaced by ‘excessive.’ [I'm still having a little trouble considering any of these traits 'evil.']

By: kristine

kristine — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:30:30 +0000

PS- People who do not have an adequate sense of fear are prone to risky behaviors. I see it everyday in teens, who have not yet outgrown their feeling of invincibility. They have far less fear, and that why parents worry a lot of the time. We fear for them, and that makes us protect and monitor our kids until they are more experienced, suffer a few consequences, and learn to fear negative consequences, thereby develop wisdom.

By: kristine

kristine — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:18:00 +0000

Fear is not inherently evil. It is not a character flaw.

Fear of getting sick is why we wash our hands. Fear of getting hit by a car is why we look before we cross the street. Fear of not adequately providing for your family is why you changed your ways. Fear of being old and impoverished is why we save money. Fear of getting caught will often keep us on the straight and narrow- from not breaking vows, to not running a red light at 3am when no one is around.

Fear is hardwired as a survival instinct. All it takes is the ability to pause and think rationally to discern if a fear is warranted or not, and if it should be ignored, or heeded. It can be that uneasy feeling that something is just not quite right, that ends up saving your life. The threat can be real, not just percieved.

Fear can be powerful motivator, not just a paralyzer. Fear itself is merely a chemical impetus in the brain, and the outcome will be either negative or positive dependent on choice.

Denial is a choice. Obsession is a mental condition. Avoidance is mild cowardice, and also a choice. Bravery is a choice.

Fear is not the opposite of bravery. Cowardice is. Choosing cowardice is the character flaw, not fear.

I hereby stickup for fear- a basic instinct getting a bad rap!

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:06:48 +0000

So, what are you doing to overcome your fear of heights? I’ll skydive with you if you want to come to Minneapolis. Let me know!