Fear is a product of the imagination. Without imagination there is no fear. The imagination is a part of man’s mind and is necessary for survival. It is our unique unsurpassed quality in the animal kingdom.
Speaking of animals, it is common to observe different animals respond when frightened, but this is not the same as the fear we experience. Theirs is always a response to a true threat. The animal sees, hears or smells something and responds. It’s one of their built-in survival tools. We, on the other hand, watching animals, imagine they are experiencing fear in the same ways we do.
Not possible.
They operate out of instinct and reinforcement behavior. This is what enables us to “train” some animals, but we still can’t teach them to read a book and then discuss it with us over a meal later. To think we can do more is just a figment of our imaginations.
Because of the size and complexity of our brains we take longer to grow and develop compared with other animals. Yes, other very large animals might have longer gestation periods than humans but theirs is all about growing in size physically, less about mental development. Immature humans (from babies up to adulthood) require years for body and brain development to reach an acceptable level of maturity, which is the ability to survive and thrive on our own without parental guidance. And the more complex the society (made this way by the accumulation of the imaginations of many over generations of time), the longer maturation might take depending on what we decide to pursue as a means of supporting ourselves and others in a family. Until maturation (or independence) day, children must be protected, nurtured and trained by mature adults.
Part of our normal growth and development within childhood should involve being trained to manage fear appropriately. Therefore, the purpose of learning fear management skills is not to eliminate fear or risk entirely but to be able to operate even in stressful/fearful environments. When this sort of fear management training is transferred from one generation to the next, over time, it strengthens society to operate effectively under both real and imagined threats. It’s a positive feedback loop. It is the strengthening of courage within the culture. Of course, to do this you have to teach history and do it in a way that reveals the behavior of heroes. Trash the history of your people and country and fear will end up eating you and your society alive. Don’t think for a second rioters are brave. They act out filled with self-loathing, rage, and big time fear — thanks in large part to their pathetic education and lack of appropriate discipline in childhood.
Unhealthy societies are the ones that undermine everything necessary to strengthen individual character. In fact, unhealthy societies are always governed by weak unhealthy (fear filled) individuals, who use bullying and fear to grow and maintain their power (that, plus they lie constantly). To this form of societal control, courageous and honest individuals are a threat. This helps explain why unhealthy societies seek to destroy families, because families raise children who know how to manage their fear and resist Big Brother threats. They are not as easily controlled as those who live in fear and so seek security as their highest life objective.
Sadly, right now we live within a progressively sick society. It is coming unglued. Transitioning children, for example, from one sex to another, and defending the action based on the child’s feelings in their innocent highly suggestible transient time of life is pure evil. Thank God I had healthy fearless parents. May their tribe continue to increase.
Finally, let’s talk about how to manage fear.
If fear is the result of having an imagination, then it is managed by working on the thought life. Guilt leads to fear so deal with guilt. Learn to admit mistakes and seek forgiveness. This may not be easy, but it is necessary if you wish to live fear free. Learn to walk in ways that strengthen courage and promote good relationships with others. When bad things happen, it is often the strength of relationships that help pull us through. And what if something bad happens and you are alone? This is the reason for preparing the mind and heart for seasons of suffering when times are relatively good.
How do we do this?
First, I write this post as a spiritual boost to give you a healthy thought or two every day. Perhaps you know some others who might benefit. Take a chance and invite them to read and join the conversation.
Second, find a community that is striving to learn the story of God found in the Bible and applying its principles in their lives. The wise learn in the good times what they will need to do when the bad times come.
Finally, keep your mind in the present as much as possible. Think about others. Be grateful for what you have, not unhappy for what you lack. Free flowing what if’s are not only unhelpful, they do not predict the future about 99.99% of the time. I’m not talking about the work of planning and scheduling, which are actually present-moment activities, but guard against idle daydreams that stoke fears.
Oh, and watch less TV.
Now, go and take on the day.
Fear may also be the result of prior experience. I don’t know that animals have an imagination that would allow them to visualize future happenings,but they do have memory. If they get a tail stuck in a door, you can bet they aren’t going to linger in a doorway even though there isn’t a present danger or threat. So is memory instinctive or it it learned?
Great analysis & well said Ben. We have devolved to a culture that expects an external quick fix for everything that requires little personal responsibility.