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Why are people afraid?

One of the two main causes of personal fear is lack of control.

If you are like most people, you probably get a little tickle in the stomach when you look at a big slimy snake in a glass case. You have no real need to feel threatened because of the barrier of glass between you and the snake. If you were then to turn around to talk to a friend and then, on returning to look at the snake, you saw an empty case with the door wide open, you may, even for a moment, feel a little more scared than you were before.

You can control a potentially fearful situation either directly or indirectly. You have direct control over the snake if you can restrict how, when and where the snake can move. Or you can indirectly control your interaction with the snake by removing yourself from where the snake is found. The reverse however, happens when someone else is controlling the snake. There is a pretty good chance for most of us that the lack of control leads us to a new dimension of fear.

Control also can affect the fear you face on a something like a roller coaster. You have most likely gone on one or two stomach turners during your lifetime, even though you knew you would experience fear, or even sickness. The fear in this instance is short lived, restricted by the length of the ride.

I remember many times standing, looking at a ride in action, watching the people as they got on and off the ride. I saw evidence of the ride staying on the track and people surviving the ordeal, some even running to line up and have another go. This was enough for me to feel enough in control to face my fear and get on board. You can go right to the edge of uncontrolled fear, knowing that in less than two minutes the ride will be over and you will be on the ground, safe and sound.

The message we can all take from this is to focus on what is known and what is in our control, using these things as the strength we take action and overcome the fear.

Next we will look at the other main cause of fear, lack of self-esteem.

Have a prosperous week, facing your fear. You deserve it!

Cheers

Grant Herbert
The People Builder

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